RICH PICKINGS!

Matt Ford believes Pirates fans will see the very best of Richie Worrall in 2019, after confirming the St Helens man would line up in the skull and crossbones once again.

Worrall came into the 2018 Pirates title-winning team after Australian spearhead Chris Holder was unable to ride for the club as planned.

The 27-year-old joins captain Josh Grajczonek, Brady Kurtz, Jack Holder and reserves Nico Covatti and Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen in the 2019 Pirates line-up, with the final rider set to be announced on Christmas Eve.

Ford said: “It may be a little bit of a surprise to people that Richie is coming back, but like Josh Grajczonek, I know what I am getting with Richie.

“He’s set up a new business in the past two years and perhaps took his eye off the sport a little. But the business is up and running and doing very well and I think now we will see the best of Richie. He did a great job for us after Chris Holder was unable to ride and came in effectively as a second heat leader. Now he will be coming in as the fifth man in the team and I think his experience will stand us in good stead.

“He’s been offered positions at other clubs but he wants to stay at Poole and I have a great trust with Richie. He can play a major part in pushing us forward again in 2019.  He came in all guns blazing last season and then perhaps had a little lull where his eyes were on his personal business, but once we got to the semi-final and final, he was there when we needed him.

“Sometimes averages work for you and in Richie’s case on 5.46, I think that is the situation. I wanted to make sure we were power-packed at reserve so Richie’s inclusion with that in mind works perfectly for us.”