ANTONIO Lindback produced an explosive individual performance at Wolves as Pirates stunned the home fans with a ruthless display at Monmore on Monday (Oct 4).

The young Swede, who has been struggling with a heavy cold over the past two weeks, shrugged off the illness to scorch to 12 paid 14 points from five rides.

But it wasn't only Lindback who impressed the 400 Poole RIAS travelling fans in an impressive crowd of 4,000 in the Black Country last night.

All of the Pirates dug deep to turn in a truly professional performance with only Daniel Davidsson struggling on a wet greasy track.

Leigh Adams, guesting for the injured Ryan Sullivan, weighed in with 11 and Bjarne Pedersen got nine paid 10. It was the mid-team efforts of Matej Ferjan (six paid seven), Magnus Zetterstrom (six paid seven) and Krzysztof Kasprzak (four) that made a big difference though, especially as Ferjan and Kasprzak do not usually go well at Monmore.

That put Wolves under so much pressure that apart from Mikael Max (13) and Fredrik Lindgren (nine paid 10) they completely floundered in front of their own bewildered fans.

Poole's display was so impressive that it made light of all the worrying doubts among their fans and management about whether the six-week lay-off they have had to endure from racing a meaningful league fixture because of the play-offs would affect their title chances.

In truth, it looked as though they had never been away from league action for more than a month - remember it was as far ago as August 25 when Poole hammered Oxford 58-37 in their final home regular league fixture.

It was Lindback who stole the individual honours as he turned on the style in front of Sky's live TV cameras.

Wolves began well by grabbing 4-2s in the opening two heats to lead 8-4. But it was Lindback and Ferjan who began to turn the tide when they outgated Wolves duo David Howe and Adam Skornicki in heat three to lead.

As the lightning-gating Ferjan stormed out in front, Lindback showed great maturity to shepherd the Slovenian to a 5-1 by pegging both Skornicki and Howe behind him.

Zetterstrom got out in front in the next race and with Adams scorching outside Lindgren coming off the second bend, another Pirates 5-1 propelled them 14-10 ahead and silenced the home supporters.

Pedersen and Howe swapped the lead three times in heat five before the Dane came out on top, and with Kasprzak grabbing third from Chris Neath on the final lap, a Poole 4-2 meant they led 18-12.

It was a lead they never looked like losing despite Wolves cutting their deficit to only two points after heat eight. Lindback had to be content with third behind race winner Sam Ermolenko and Ferjan in heat seven.

Just as Wolves looked like they were going to pull level or even take the lead when they were on a 5-1 in heat nine, Adams drove firmly between Lindgren and Howe coming off the second bend to take the lead.

Davidsson then snatched the vital third place from Howe and Poole eventually won the heat 4-2 to stretch their lead to 29-25.

It was Lindback who landed the final punches though as Wolves hung on the ropes.

He outgated Max twice - the original start was called back when Max collided with Ferjan causing him to fall on the first bend - to win heat 10.

In fact, the Swede fairly hammered his compatriot in the re-run - winning by at least 50 metres after Max gave up the chase at the end of the second lap.

Pedersen's fabulous last-to-first burst past Ermolenko, Lindgren and Kasprzak coming off the second bend in heat 11 enabled him to take the chequered flag and put Pirates 36-30 in front.

Wolves were on a 4-2 when Lindgren fell on the third lap of heat 12, gifting Poole a vital 3-3 which kept them well ahead.

Lindback completed a breathtaking individual and team display by scorching from the back to beat Max again in the final race.

With Adams picking off Ermolenko for third, the Poole 4-2 saw them stretch their final winning margin to eight.

It means Pirates have one hand on the Elite League trophy.

And, barring injuries and a sporting disaster, they should be capable of becoming the first side to achieve back-to-back top-flight titles since Coventry in the late 1980s.

HEAT DETAILS

Wolverhampton Wolves: 1 Mikael Max (3-3-2-3-2) 13, 2 Adam Skornicki (1-1-1-1-1) 5, 3 David Howe (0-2-0-3-2) 7, 4 Rider replacement for Daniel Nermark, 5 Sam Ermolenko (1-3-2-0-0) 6, 6 Chris Neath (1-0-0) 1, 7 Fredrik Lindgren (3-0-3-2-0-fell exc-1*) 9+1, 8 James Wright (did not ride). Team manager: Peter Adams.

Poole Rias Pirates: 1 Bjarne Pedersen (2-3-3-1*) 9+1, 2 Krzysztof Kasprzak (0-1-2-1) 4, 3 Matej Ferjan (3-2-0-1*) 6+1, 4 Antonio Lindback (2*-1*-3-3-3) 12+1, 5 (guest) Leigh Adams (3-2-3-2-1) 11, 6 Daniel Davidsson (0-0-1) 1 7 Magnus Zetterstrom (2-2*-0-2-0) 6+1.

Team manager: Neil Middleditch.

Referee: Paul Ackroyd (Preston).

Ht 1: Max, Pedersen, Skornicki, Kasprzak, 57.86 (4-2).

Ht 2: Lindgren, Zetterstrom, Neath, Davidsson, 59.23 (8-4).

Ht 3: Ferjan, Lindback, Skornicki, Howe, 59.20 (9-9).

Ht 4: Adams, Zetterstrom, Ermolenko, Lindgren, 58.51 (10-14).

Ht 5: Pedersen, Howe, Kasprzak, Neath, 60.11 (12-18).

Ht 6: Max, Adams, Skornicki, Davidsson, 58.34 (16-20).

Ht 7: Ermolenko, Ferjan, Lindback, Neath, 59.10 (19-23).

Ht 8: Lindgren, Kasprzak, Skornicki, Zetterstrom, 59.74 (23-25).

Ht 9: Adams, Lindgren, Davidsson, Howe, 58.96 (25-29).

Ht 10: (re-run) Lindback, Max, Skornicki, Ferjan, 58.61 (28-32).

Ht 11: Pedersen, Ermolenko, Kasprzak, Lindgren, 59.50 (30-36).

Ht 12: Howe, Zetterstrom, Ferjan, Lindgren (fell excluded), awarded, no time (33-39).

Ht 13: Max, Adams, Pedersen, Ermolenko, 58.84 (36-42).

Ht 14: Lindback, Howe, Lindgren, Zetterstrom, 59.39 (39-45).

Ht 15: Lindback, Max, Adams, Ermolenko, 59.24 (41-49).