BIRMINGHAM is often referred to as the second city and the Brummies were certainly second best here last night.

On this sensational evidence, it will take something special to stop this history-making Pirates outfit. And, in truth, there was never any danger of that something special occurring in the Midlands.

The Brummies were ruthlessly dismantled in their own back yard as the defending champions roared another statement of intent by racking up no fewer than 12 race wins in an imperious performance.

Inspired by breathtaking maximum man Darcy Ward, Pirates’ unbeaten start to the season was emphatically preserved as they defied what many had predicted would be a tough assignment in Perry Barr.

Led by the Turbo Twins, Poole rocketed to the top of the Elite League table and shattered a 57-year-old club record opening to a campaign – with an 11th consecutive win – in the process.

And while some have labelled them ‘top heavy’ due to the prolific Ward, Chris Holder and Adrian Miedzinski, the likes of Ricky Kling and Kyle Howarth also played a key role as Birmingham, apart from impressive duo Danny King and Josh Auty, proved no match.

It was scorching weather and Pirates were in red-hot form as they immediately stamped their authority. Four straight wins set the tone before a typically dominant finish secured a 54-36 winning margin.

Holder and Kling, split by Martin Smolinski, secured a comfortable 4-2 ahead of struggling ex-Poole hero Bjarne Pedersen before it got even better for the visitors thanks to fast-starting pair Howarth and guest Henning Bager.

Poole had enjoyed a dream start and boss Neil Middleditch must have been pinching himself as he watched Ward blast to a third straight victory.

Miedzinski dived under Sebastian Ulamek before cruising home to make it four heat advantages in a row.

Birmingham finally gave the home crowd something to cheer when Ben Barker and Danny King combined to reduce the deficit to 19-11 after five races.

Smolinski then led another Brummies heat advantage – by a matter of inches. In a fascinating ding-dong tussle, he was chased all the way by Miedzinski but just held on despite the Poole star’s daring last-bend swoop.

Ward got Pirates back on track in the most audacious fashion in race seven. Recovering from a dreadful start, the Australian ace fired round the outside of Tomasz Piszcz and Ulamek with such ease that he appeared to punch the air with delight on his way past. He was cantering to victory until Dennis Andersson took a tumble and the race was awarded.

Kling rocketed along the air fence before claiming Pirates’ sixth win of the night, coolly holding off Auty’s persistent charge from the back.

Brummies skipper King produced an excellent effort to defeat Miedzinski and give the hosts a glimmer of hope at 30-24.

But, in reality, the writing was already on the wall as Pirates moved into their usually dominant series of races from heats 10 to 13 – with Ward and Holder taking two rides apiece in the potentially match-defining period.

Ward avoided a Smolinski surge to catch Pedersen and produce a trademark blast round the outside to start the late push.

A bizarre heat 11 saw Holder defeat Ulamek after the 35-year-old had slowed dramatically on the final lap. But it was announced that a flag mix-up had caused him to shut off the power – and a re-run was called amid confusion. There was no change to the result second time round, although Holder needed no help this time.

Ward continued the predictable sequence before Holder and Miedzinski heaped more misery on the Brummies with the most straightforward of 5-1s.

Andersson put a victory on his score-chart and it was then left to Turbo Twins Ward and Holder to seal a fitting finale for the record breakers.

Brummies 36: 1 Bjarne Pedersen (0-1-2-1) 4, 2 Martin Smolinski (2-3-0-1*-0) 6+1, 3 Danny King (2-1-3-2-1) 9, 4 Ben Barker (0-3-1-0) 4, 5 Sebastian Ulamek (2-1*-2-0) 5+1, 6 Tomasz Piszcz (0-2-0) 2, 7 Josh Auty (1-0-2-1*-2) 6+1. Team manager: Phil Morris.

Pirates 54: 1 Chris Holder (3-2-3-3-2*) 13+1, 2 Ricky Kling (1-0-3-1) 5, 3 Darcy Ward (3-3-3-3-3) 15, 4 Dennis Andersson (1-0-0-3) 4, 5 Adrian Miedzinski (3-2-2-2*) 9+1, 6 Henning Bager (guest) (2*-0-0) 2+1, 7 Kyle Howarth (3-1-1-0-1) 6. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.

Points: Brummies 0 Pirates 4.

Referee: Chris Durno.

Ht 1: Holder, Smolinski, Kling, Pedersen, 58.1 (2-4) Ht 2: (re-run) Howarth, Bager, Auty, Piszcz, 60.1 (3-9) Ht 3: Ward, King, Andersson, Barker, 58.8 (5-13) Ht 4: Miedzinski, Ulamek, Howarth, Auty (retired), 59.2 (7-17) Ht 5: Barker, Holder, King, Kling, 59.5 (11-19) Ht 6: Smolinski, Miedzinski, Pedersen, Bager, 60.4 (15-21) Ht 7: (awarded) Ward, Piszcz, Ulamek, Andersson (fell, excluded), (18-24) Ht 8: Kling, Auty, Howarth, Smolinski, 60.9 (20-28) Ht 9: King, Miedzinski, Barker, Bager, 59.9 (24-30) Ht 10: Ward, Pedersen, Smolinski, Andersson, 60.1 (27-33) Ht 11: (re-run) Holder, Ulamek, Kling, Piszcz, 60.1 (29-37) Ht 12: Ward, King, Auty, Howarth, 60.8 (32-40) Ht 13: Holder, Miedzinski, Pedersen, Ulamek, 60.4 (33-45) Ht 14: Andersson, Auty, Howarth, Barker, 61.2 (35-49) Ht 15: Ward, Holder, King, Smolinski, 60.6 (36-54)