PIRATES OPENER

Poole's 2016 campaign will kick off in just 18 weeks time with an Elite Shield opener against Coventry Bees.

The Pirates will face the Bees twice in a week in the quest for the first piece of silverware of the season with Poole hosting the opening leg on Wednesday 16th March and the return will take place just 48 hours later on Friday 18th March.

Poole boss Matt Ford, who is still assembling his team for the 2016 season said "I am pleased to confirm that we already have a couple of dates for the diary. We have won this competition in three of the four past seasons and we will be very keen to retain it again. Once the early calendar begins to take shape then you know that the season is drawing ever nearer and our opening fixture is just about 18 weeks away."

"As far as team buiilding is concerned we are very much on track and some news is extremely imminent on that front."

 Both clubs involved in the Elite Shield have so far named four of their septet - Hans Andersen, Krzysztof Buczkowski, Kyle Newman and Adam Ellis confirmed starters for the Pirates and Chris Harris, Danny King, Josh Bates and James Sarjeant announced by Coventry.