PIRATES confirmed their place at the top of the SGB Premiership standings after a 51-39 success at King’s Lynn.

The defending champions, who are tonight expected to announce their pick of opponents for the play-off semi-finals, were spearheaded by Brady Kurtz (11) and Jack Holder (10).

The result earned the Dorset club four league points, meaning they leapfrogged Swindon into top spot in the final standings.

Pirates went into the clash with the Stars tracking a full one-to-seven, while the hosts were left stretched in their final meeting of the campaign.

Chris Harris guested in place of the injured Michael Palm Toft, while fellow guest Josh MacDonald came in at reserve after Dane Nicklas Porsing had quit the club.

They also used rider replacement for the injured Thomas Jorgensen

Despite Erik Riss going through the tapes in the opener, he finished third off a 15-metre handicap after Poole’s Nico Covatti was forced to retire.

King’s Lynn’s Robert Lambert got the better of Kurtz out in front to open up an early lead for the hosts.

Lewis Kerr took the chequered flag in race two ahead of Pirates’ reserves Ricky Wells and Thomas H Jonasson.

And Riss was back out to triumph ahead of Pirates skipper Josh Grajczonek in race three. Harris claimed third ahead of Nicolai Klindt to extend to four the hosts’ lead.

Poole’s wait for a race winner went on as Craig Cook got the better of Holder in a shared heat four.

But Neil Middleditch’s men rallied and levelled up the contest with a 5-1 heat advantage in race five. Kurtz led home second-placed Covatti to this time got the better of Harris and Riss.

Lambert then sealed his second race win of the night, having beaten Holder into top spot in race six. Jonasson was forced to retire meaning Kerr picked up third.

After a shared heat seven was won by Cook, Poole went ahead for the first time on the night thanks to Ricky Wells and Covatti.

The duo teamed up to get the better of Harris and Kerr in race eight, sealing a 5-1 and putting Poole 25-23 ahead.

Back came the Stars with a 4-2 in race nine. Poole’s Holder once again had to settle for second after he was beaten into first spot by Riss. Harris was third ahead of Wells.

British young gun Lambert continue to lead the charge for King’s Lynn having taken the chequered flag ahead of Grajczonek and Klindt in a level heat 10 – as tensions began to rise.

But Kurtz delivered when it mattered as Pirates put themselves in the ascendancy in a pivotal heat 11. Cook retired, leaving the Aussie charger to pounce alongside Covatti for a 5-1 ahead of Kerr in third.

It was then the turn of Klindt to press home proceedings with a race advantage in heat 12. He overcame Riss with Jonasson picking up third after Stars reserve MacDonald had fallen.

Kurtz and Holder then recorded a 4-2 in heat 13 to all but put the meeting and quest for top-spot beyond doubt.

And despite Riss claiming the penultimate heat, Grajczonek and Wells occupied the minor placings to seal victory on the night and top spot overall.

The icing on the cake then came for Pirates in heat 15 as Holder and Klindt overcame Riss and Cook to seal an 11-point triumph.

King’s Lynn: Lambert 11, Riss 13, Harris 4, Cook 6, Kerr 5, MacDonald 0.

Pirates: Kurtz 11, Covatti 6+3, Klindt 7+3, Grajczonek 8, Holder 10, Jonasson 2+1, Wells 7+2.