PIRATES’ spot in the SGB Premiership play-offs is all but secure – despite Neil Middleditch’s side taking a hammering at in-form King’s Lynn.

Poole were thrashed 58-32 on a night of mixed emotions in Norfolk, with every visiting rider except Chris Harris running at least one last place.

But following Wolverhampton’s 59-31 defeat at Somerset, only a mathematical miracle can stop the Dorset club reaching the top-flight play-offs for the ninth straight season – eight weeks after they sat bottom of the table.

Team boss Middleditch told the Daily Echo: “It was a proper bottom-spanking but King’s Lynn are a very good side round here and it looks as if they will finish top.

"We need to fire on all cylinders if we are going to challenge for the title.

“I’m sure people will be running for the lifeboats like they did at the start of the season but we did tremendously well to get back to where we did after being bottom in July.

"When the play-offs come round, it all starts again.”

Pirates were under the pump from the off as King’s Lynn’s rapid gating yielded maximums in the opening two heats.

Ty Proctor’s frantic dash back to the pits did not throw his focus for heat three, the Aussie spearheading a third 5-1 as Josh Grajczonek and Richie Worrall trailed.

Harris stemmed the flow temporarily by rounding Simon Lambert for the lead but the Stars came roaring back with another maximum from the gate.

Robert Lambert was untouchable in heat six but Harris and Kacper Woryna did at least manage to prevent the heat advantage.

A fifth 5-1 for the hosts arrived in heat seven and once again sharp trapping was the key – this time Michael Palm Toft and Niels-Kristian Iversen setting the pace.

Grajczonek split the Stars duo in heat eight when passing Simon Lambert but the overall lead was still extended to 22 points.

Poole finally earned a heat advantage at the ninth attempt when Woryna gated and Harris finished third.

The mercurial Robert Lambert powered to his third win and Iversen and Palm Toft got a 4-2 in heat 11, before Proctor continued his excellent night with a 5-1 alongside Simon Lambert.

Robert Lambert then finally had his colours lowered, Kurtz triumphing from the gate, while heat 14 was drawn after Worrall got away quickest.

A fourth win put the polish on Robert Lambert’s 14-point salvo, resulting in a gaping 26-point margin of victory.

Pirates have one regular-season fixture remaining, which is at home to Wolverhampton a week tonight.

RIDERS’ SCORES AND HEAT DETAILS

King’s Lynn 58: 1 Robert Lambert (3-3-3-2-3) 14, 2 Erik Riss (2*-0-3-t) 5+1, 3 Ty Proctor (3-2*-2-3) 10+1, 4 Thomas Jorgensen (2*-3-0-2-1) 8+1, 5 Niels-Kristian Iversen (1*-2*-3-r) 6+2, 6 Michael Palm Toft (3-3-0-1-1*) 8+1, 7 Simon Lambert (2*-2-1-2*) 7+2.

Pirates 32: 1 Brady Kurtz (0-1-0-3-2) 6, 2 Josh Grajczonek (1-1-0-2-2) 6, 3 Richie Worrall (0-1-2-1-3-0) 7, 4 Nicolai Klindt r/r, 5 Chris Harris (3-2-1-1) 7, 6 Kacper Woryna (1-1*-0-3-1-0) 6+1, 7 Frederik Jakobsen (0-0-0-0) 0.

HT 1: R Lambert, Riss, Grajczonek, Kurtz, 58.53 (5-1)

HT 2: Palm Toft, S Lambert, Woryna, Jakobsen, 59.31 (10-2)

HT 3: Proctor, Jorgensen, Grajczonek, Worrall, 59.47 (15-3)

HT 4: Harris, S Lambert, Iversen, Jakobsen, 59.12 (18-6)

HT 5: Jorgensen, Proctor, Kurtz, Grajczonek, 59.15 (23-7)

HT 6: R Lambert, Harris, Woryna, Riss, 58.56 (26-10)

HT 7: Palm Toft, Iversen, Worrall, Woryna, 58.84 (31-11)

HT 8: Riss, Grajczonek, S Lambert, Jakobsen, 58.75 (35-13)

HT 9: Woryna, Proctor, Harris, Jorgensen, 58.71 (37-17)

HT 10 (re-run): R Lambert, Worrall, Woryna, Palm Toft, Riss (tapes/rep), 58.21 (40-20)

HT 11: Iversen, Grajczonek, Palm Toft, Kurtz, 59.56 (44-22)

HT 12: Proctor, S Lambert, Worrall, Woryna, time unknown (49-23)

HT 13: Kurtz, Lambert, Harris, Iversen (ret), 58.34 (51-27)

HT 14: Worrall, Jorgensen, Palm Toft, Jakobsen, 59.74 (54-30)

HT 15: R Lambert, Kurtz, Jorgensen, Worrall (ret), 59.22 (58-32)