IT may have been a new-look Poole Pirates but normal service was resumed when it came to the result.

Chris Holder and Darcy Ward were joined on the list of top scorers by debutant Ricky Kling as Pirates claimed victory in their seasonal curtain-raiser.

There were few surprises as captain Holder (13) and fellow heat leader Ward (12) led the way in the Elite Shield first-leg triumph at Wolves last night.

But it was an impressive 10-point haul from reserve Kling that saw the Swede deservedly claim the plaudits from team manager Neil Middleditch.

The double-figure return trio received solid support from Dennis Andersson, whose paid six-point tally included a crucial penultimate heat win over Ty Proctor.

And although new recruits Adrian Miedzinski, Sam Masters and Todd Kurtz found the going tough, victory will have sent a message to Pirates’ Elite League title challengers.

Masters, who made an inauspicious start to his Pirates career when he was disqualified in the opening heat, went on to chip in with a couple of third places.

And while Miedzinski registered a defiant second place in heat four, he experienced fluctuating fortunes in his remaining three races.

It was a baptism of fire for teenager Kurtz, the young Australian collecting his solitary point in his first ride in heat two.

The night, however, belonged to Kling and the highlight was a superb manoeuvre to pass Ty Proctor on the third lap of heat nine to ensure a Wolves 5-1 would be trimmed to a 4-2.

Ward then showed Freddie Lindgren a clean pair of heels to cruise to victory in heat 10 before a super-charged Holder left his rivals for dead in heat 11 as Pirates drew level at 33-33.

Although Ward again showed his class to take heat 12, canny team riding by Nicolai Klindt and Ricky Wells kept Kling out of the points for the first and only time.

And while Holder shut the door on Lindgren throughout heat 13, Miedzinski completed an indifferent start for his new club by finishing as the whipper-in.

A flying start from Andersson saw him claim a pillar-to-post victory in the penultimate heat, but again Wolves failed to give an inch with Proctor and Wells leaving Kurtz trailing in their wake to ensure a third successive 3-3.

However, skipper Holder predictably led from the front, his superb ride in the decider freeing out Lindgren with Ward’s third place ensuring Pirates would bring back a two-point cushion.