PIRATES reserve Adam Ellis has been tipped as a potential British under-21 champion by national youth boss Neil Vatcher.

Ellis, the club’s new fast-track rider for 2016, has hit the ground running at Wimborne Road with a series of stellar performances in the top flight.

And ahead of tomorrow’s under-21 showdown at Sheffield, Vatcher expects the Ringwood-based charger to challenge.

Vatcher said: “Robert Lambert would start as favourite based on his form of 2015 but he has not really hit the heights at this early stage of the season.

“Many would argue Adam Ellis is the man in form having already scored a paid maximum in the Elite League.

“From my perspective, it is so pleasing to see so many fresh faces competing at this level.”

Tier-two reserve Ellis kicked off his Elite League season with an 11 paid 12 haul against Swindon on Good Friday and then notched the same score in guest bookings for Coventry and strugglers Leicester, respectively.

The France-born ace then scored six paid eight in Pirates' home clash with Lakeside before bagging 11 points in the return fixture at Purfleet.

He became the new number one for National League outfit Eastbourne last week.