NEW-look Coventry arrived in Dorset touted by Matt Ford as serious challengers to Pirates’ title hopes.

They had made Poole Castle Cover’s chief slightly nervous after strengthening up with new signings Krzysztof Kasprzak, Lewis Bridger and Przemyslav Pawlicki.

Pawlicki, on his first visit to Poole, produced a gritty, determined 11-point display to back up Ford’s concerns.

But, surprisingly, Kasprzak and Bridger were not at the races last night, along with an unusually out-of-sorts Edward Kennett and Ben Barker.

Only Chris Harris (12) gave Bees any spark alongside the exciting Pawlicki against a powerful Pirates side without Artur Mroczka.

Any notions Coventry had of handing Poole a first home defeat of the season quickly vanished when the runaway league leaders romped into a commanding early 10-point lead.

And it was Poole’s ‘Terrible Twins’, Darcy Ward and Chris Holder, who took centre stage.

The dynamic Aussie duo were on fire as they expertly combined to reel off four 5-1s, with Ward notching his best Pirates score yet of 15 paid 17.

That really should have been 14 paid 17.

Referee Graham Flint officially awarded the flying teenager victory in heat 15 when Holder was leading the race after Harris crashed into the back of Pawlicki to force a stoppage.

The flamboyant Aussies, close friends off the track, quickly showed their familiarity on it when they zipped out in front to comfortably beat Harris and Barker in race one.

There was no holding Pirates back after that.

Holder and Ward are a class act when they are paired together and their heat six triumph over a hard-charging Kasprzak displayed all that is great about their partnership.

Ward, still only 18, had showed he knows all the best Wimborne Road lines and cinched a 5-1 with Pedersen in heat three.

The teenager, beaten only by Pawlicki in race eight, smartly outgated Bridger and Kennett in heat 10 before allowing Holder to blast clear down the back straight and take the chequered flag.

It wasn’t only a bad night for Coventry and Flint as start marshal Rob Wadham warmed up for his British GP debut by inadvertently overseeing a five-lap heat nine in front of former Pirates start marshal Bert |Ball – making one of his occasional visits to Wimborne Road last night.

If you can remember seeing a five-lap race at Poole before last night, please email phil.chard@bournemouthecho.co.uk with the details and we'll share your thoughts with the rest of our readers.

• Ex-Eastbourne rider James Brundle has signed as Chris Mills’ replacement for Buccaneers.