KING’S LYNN boss Peter Schroeck praised the efforts of his patched-up side at reigning champions Poole - despite the emphatic scoreline.

Without Robert Lambert, Michael Palm Toft and Thomas Jorgensen, the Poultec Stars were always on the back foot.

Now they head into Monday’s meeting against Swindon on home shale looking to bounce back - with Lambert and Palm Toft back in the side at least.

Said Schroeck: “It has been an eventful and very disappointing night. Obviously, it all started with not having a full team which isn’t ideal when you are going to Poole - who are one of the play-off teams.

“We started brightly with race wins in heat 1 and 2 and I thought we were doing pretty good, but suddenly Poole got into the meeting.

“We had a couple of issues with Chris (Harris) having bike problems and then in another heat, I wanted to put Lewi Kerr in, but his fork plates actually broke and he was lucky not to crash!

“We played every card we could and I just want to state that it really wasn’t for the lack of trying because all of the boys from Chad Wirtzfeld to Craig Cook all put a shift in.”

Stars started brightly with guest Chris Harris winning Heat 1 in fine style beating Poole duo Brady Kurtz and Nico Covatti.

Lewis Kerr then followed suit winning heat 2 with the scores again staying level.

But that was as good as it got for the visitors in the opening stages as Poole reeled off three heat advantages in a row to lead 19-11 after five heats.

Stars boss Schroeck opted to put Harris in as tactical substitute in Heat 7, but sadly the Brit missed the two-minute time allowance meaning Nicklas Porsing came in as his replacement.

German racer Riss secured King’s Lynn their third race win of the night while Porsing got the better of Tomas H Jonasson for third in a Stars’ 4-2 to cut the deficit to six points.

The Pirates hit back straight away in heat 8 with Guest Ryan Douglas and Covatti securing a 5-1 which took their up to 10 points. By this stage Poole were dominant and heading wide towards the maximum drive on the Wimborne Road circuit.

The lead was extended further with Brady Kurtz and Covatti romping to a 5-1 in heat 10 with the score now 37-23.

There was no stopping Poole from here and two further Pirates’ heat advantages followed in12 and 13 as the home side extended their lead to 49-29 with two races remaining.

Riss then came in as rider replacement in 14 while Kerr came in as a reserve switch in place of Porsing. Sadly, the Stars’ duo couldn’t prevent Josh Grajczonek and Jonasson from securing the Pirates’ fifth straight heat advantage with the score at 54-30.

Despite the best efforts of Cook and Riss, they couldn’t stop Poole securing a sixth straight heat advantage in 15 as the Pirates wrapped up a comprehensive win.

POOLE 58: Jack Holder 14, Nicolai Klindt 12, Brady Kurtz 9, Ryan Douglas 8+1, Josh Grajczonek 6+1, Nico Covatti 5+3, Tomas H Jonasson 4+2
KING’S LYNN 32: Craig Cook 10, Erik Riss 9, Chris Harris 8, Lewis Kerr 4+1, Nicklas Porsing 1, Chad Wirtzfeld 0, Thomas Jorgensen r/r