Ford: Jack has answered critics on the track

Danny Ford believes Jack Holder has answered his critics in the best way possible – on the track.

Holder scored nine points as the No1 Carpet Cleaning Poole Pirates ran out convincing Bank Holiday winners over Swindon at Wimborne Road, a 51-39 Premiership triumph atoning for the home side’s big defeat against the Robins on Good Friday.

And Holder followed up his Wimborne Road exploits by top-scoring with paid 15 in the evening’s return fixture at the Abbey Stadium, the Pirates battling hard to secure two league points with a 45-45 draw.

Holder’s recent form has seen the Aussie bag scores of paid 11 at Peterborough and 12 at King’s Lynn in the Supporters’ Cup.

The Pirates Number One also banked paid 12 against Ipswich in the Supporters’ Cup at the beginning of May to kick off a productive month.

Prior to those hauls, however, Holder had struggled for form and came in for some criticism on social media.

The 23-year-old, though, kept his counsel and instead focused on turning around his poor start to the campaign.

Ford said: “I can’t speak highly enough of Jack and couldn’t be happier to see him finding some real form for us.

“Unfortunately we live in a world where everyone can have their say on social media and some riders would have bitten back had they had some of the criticism Jack did.

“But he kept his powder dry, worked hard on and off the track and he is now reaping the rewards – as are we.”

Richie Worrall also improved on his recent returns in Pirates colours with an impressive paid 11 in the lunchtime meeting at Wimborne Road and seven in Wiltshire.

Nico Covatti’s 10 points in the home clash were also key, as were Danish pair Nicolai Klindt (9) and Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen (9+1) at the Abbey Stadium.

Full report from Wimborne Road here.

Full report from the Abbey Stadium here.

Picture: Tony Hartman.