TEAM boss Neil Middleditch heaped praise on his Pirates charges after they held their nerve to seal a dramatic 46-44 success at Wolverhampton.

Poole earned three SGB Premiership points, largely thanks to skipper Josh Grajczonek’s 11 paid 13 and reserve rocket Nico Covatti, who dialled in nine paid 10 on the night.

Aussie ace Grajczonek ensured Pirates triumphed by finishing second in heat 15, after the visitors had gone into the final race four points ahead.

Middleditch told the Daily Echo: “We started off really strongly and they hit back with the three 5-1s but the boys never gave up.

“It was a brilliant result for us. Nico Covatti was outstanding and Josh again was brilliant.

“Everybody played their part. Jack (Holder) and Brady (Kurtz) probably didn’t have their greatest of nights but they contributed enough to get us to win the meeting.”

Wolves went into the contest having tracked guest Max Clegg in the absence of Ashley Morris, who was ruled out with a wrist injury.

Having been forced to withdraw after a crash in the opener between the sides at Wimborne Road a week ago, Holder got his meeting off to a winning start at Monmore Green.

He led home Kyle Howarth with Richie Worrall in third, to earn the visitors an early heat advantage.

And it got better for Pirates in the reserves’ battle. Covatti continued his impressive form to lead from the gate with Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen, as the duo sealed a 5-1 ahead of Clegg and Luke Becker.

Klindt, the hero for Poole when the teams last met, picked up where he left off by winning race three from start to finish. Grajczonek powered home behind him with Jacob Thorssell and Nick Morris trailing, as the Dorset club surged into a 14-4 lead.

But Wolves hit back with no fewer than three straight maximums to take a 19-17 advantage after six races.

Poole’s Kurtz hit the deck and was excluded from heat four. Lone Pirate Busk Jakobsen had no answer to Wolves duo Becker and Rory Schlein, as they charged home for the hosts’ first 5-1.

Thorssell and Morris saw off the challenge of Worrall and Holder to record another one-two. Sam Masters and Howarth then made it a hat-trick for Wolves to turn the contest on its head.

After a shared heat seven, Wolves then edged four points ahead. Becker bagged his second race win of the meeting with Worrall in second. Howarth picked up third with Busk Jakobsen at the back.

But the contest took another twist with Pirates ensuring the overall scores were deadlocked 27-27 after nine heats.

Kurtz sealed his first victory of the night with Covatti managing to see off the eager challenge of Thorssell to land second and record a 5-1.

Pirates then had a slice of luck to regain the advantage after heat 10. Grajczonek powered home to claim the spoils and, after Howarth’s bike packed up just short of the line, Klindt managed to snatch third and earn a 4-2.

Drama then ensued in heat 11 as Holder took the chequered flag. Worrall looked set to seal second before tangling with Schlein on the final straight.

The Pirates number two was excluded by referee Craig Ackroyd, meaning the spoils were shared.

Covatti and Klindt led Poole home for a 5-1 in heat 12 to open up a six-point gap – before Wolves responded yet again with a maximum of their own.

Masters and Schlein overcame Aussie duo Holder and Kurtz to set up a grandstand finale – Poole led 40-38 with two heats remaining.

The Dorset club kept their cool in race 14 and earned a crucial 4-2. Grajczonek was untouched in front ahead of Nick Morris – Covatti was third after Becker fell on the opening lap.

And despite Klindt being forced to retire during the final heat, Poole captain Grajczonek did enough to earn second behind Masters and ensure Poole picked up a valuable success.