Super Steve Worrall leads the charge as Pirates beat the Brummies

Worrall, who is soon set to hand his number one race jacket over to Danny King, picked up 13+2 from five rides to guide Poole home.

Richard Lawson (10+2) also secured a paid maximum, while captain King recovered from a slow start to collect 12 points from his five rides.

Poole led right from the first heat, maintaining a comfortable advantage throughout with a notable contribution also from Ben Cook, with nine points including two race wins.

Adam Ellis (12) was the standout performer from the visitors, taking six rides on the night.

Pirates v Birmingham - Heat 3 (Picture: Richard Crease)

The win lifts Pirates up to second in the fledgling Championship standings, with early leaders Leicester Lions having ridden at least two more meetings than any other club in the division.

Pirates again boasted their full one-to-seven while Brummies, seeking a first point of the league campaign, operated rider replacement for Josh Auty, who suffered a broken leg during a crash at Perry Barr last week.

Stefan Nielsen lined up for the visitors, having been part of Pirates’ septet in 2021, before suffering a season-ending injury, ironically against Birmingham, in September.

Pirates got off to a dream start with Worrall and Zach Cook getting away quickest and easing to a maximum in the opening heat.

However, Brummies hit straight back. Nielsen showed his expertise around Wimborne Road, winning race two ahead of Drew Kemp, while young Aussie James Pearson saw off Nathan Ablitt as the visitors registered a 4-2.

But Pirates soon took command again with another maximum in heat three. Ben Cook flew out the traps and was never going to be caught, but Lawson battled hard before nipping up the inside of Ashley Morris to take second.

British champion Ellis got his night off to a successful start, defeating King in a shared heat four, with 16-year-old Pearson falling at the back, as Pirates led 15-9 going into the first track grading pause.

Poole quickly extended their advantage with Ben Cook posting the fastest race win of the night (59.69), again leading Lawson home in a third maximum for the hosts.

Poole Pirates v Birmingham Brummies (Picture: Richard Crease)

Worrall recorded his second race win of the night in heat six, while Zach Cook impressed from the back to overtake Nielsen, and push Ellis hard before settling for third.

But Brummies hit back in heat seven. Boss Laurence Rogers used a tactical sub, with Ellis sent straight back out and it proved to be inspired as he and Morris cruised to a maximum, cutting the gap on the night to 25-17.

Nielsen was brought in to heat eight and added two more points to his tally, but could not challenge race winner Zach Cook.

Pirates opened up a 10-point cushion at 32-22 after heat nine. Ellis looked like he would claim his third win of the night, only for Lawson to storm back to get the better of the France-born star.

Worrall continued his flawless evening with a third win from three, but with Zach Cook failing to score for the first time on the night, the advantage remained the same going into the interval.

King put a mixed night behind him with a dominant display in heat 11. From gate two, Pirates’ skipper quickly took out the outside line, sweeping to the front by bend two and never looked back. Nielsen, who replaced Dorchester-born James Shanes, held off Kemp at the back to ensure Brummies got a share of the spoils.

Pirates v Birmingham - Heat 3 (Picture: Richard Crease)

Lawson maintained his paid maximum after seeing off an initial strong challenge from Morris, but with Ablitt struggling at the back, the heat was again shared as Poole led 41-31 with three heats to go.

But Pirates secured the victory with a big maximum in heat 13, taking an unassailable 46-32 lead. King and Worrall shot to the front, while Birmingham’s cause was not aided by Ellis failing to finish.

Morris picked up his first race win in a shared heat 14, before King and Worrall again sealed a 5-1 to finish the night in style.

Pirates 54: Steve Worrall 13+2, Zach Cook 6+1, Richard Lawson 10+2, Ben Cook 9, Danny King 12, Drew Kemp 3+1, Nathan Ablitt 1+1.

Birmingham 36: Claus Vissing 5, James Shanes 2+1, Ashley Morris 9+2, Adam Ellis 12, Stefan Nielsen 7+1, James Pearson 1.