Ford expects swift returns from Covatti and Kurtz

The No1 Carpet Cleaning Poole Pirates are hopeful both Brady Kurtz and Nico Covatti will return to action next week.

The Pirates’ five-meeting winning run came to a crashing halt at King’s Lynn last night, the Premiership champions going down 57-33 with a patched-up team.

Guests Ricky Wells, Aaron Summers and Kyle Newman could only manage six points between them at the Adrian Flux Arena and promoter Danny Ford admitted the Pirates’ rotten luck with injuries had finally come back to bite them.

Kurtz is recovering from a concussion sustained a week ago riding for Vetlanda in Sweden and has missed the Pirates’ last two meetings, while Covatti is recovering from a chest injury after a nasty crash with team-mate Richie Worrall at the end of June.

But Ford confirmed both men could return sooner than expected – a welcome boost as the Pirates look to maintain their position in the SGB Premiership shake-up.

Ford said: “Last night against King’s Lynn was hugely disappointing, but when you’re running a team full of guests and having to use rider replacement, it’s always going to be an uphill struggle.

“We really have had some terrible luck with injuries this season but I’m hopeful both Nico and Brady will be fit to return in the next week or so, which will be a massive boost.

“Six points from three guests was really what cost us at King’s Lynn and shows the importance of having a fit one-to-seven.”

Jack Holder led the way with 12 points in Norfolk, while Nicolai Klindt chipped in with paid 10 and Josh Grajczonek six.

The Stars’ consistency won the day, however, with all bar injured Thomas Jorgensen scoring seven points in more.

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