SANTA NIC-OLAI!

Promoter Matt Ford urged the Poole Pirates faithful to “enjoy an early Christmas present” after confirming club favourite Nicolai Klindt would return in 2019.

The Dane was a revelation during the Pirates’ 2018 title-winning campaign, coming in during June and helping propel the Dorset side to the SGB Premiership crown.

Ford confirmed Klindt as the final man in his 2019 septet, the 29-year-old joining number one Jack Holder, Brady Kurtz, Nico Covatti, Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen, Richie Worrall and captain Josh Grajczonek.

The Pirates promoter said: “Hopefully the fans will see Nicolai’s signing very much as an early Christmas gift.

“He is hugely popular, is improving and has had a great 18 months remaining injury-free. Chris Holder said to me that he felt Nicolai coming in last year won us the title and it’s hard to disagree too much with that. He made things happen with his gating ability and did us proud. He’s a welcome addition and well-looked-after locally. He picks up more sponsorship locally than probably the rest of the boys put together because he works hard and is approachable.

“I look forward to him progressing even further with us. He won the league in Poland and won both leagues in Britain in 2018 and is clearly someone who is maturing and getting better with age. I am really pleased he’s back.”

Klindt comes into the Pirates one-to-seven on a 6.61 average.

Another Pirate 'Nico'  enjoyed pre-Christmas success in his native land on Sunday as Nico Covatti took a lead in the first round of the Argentinian Championships. As a three-time Argentinian Champion, Covatti lead home defending champion Facundo Albin in the final having dropped his only point of the meeting to his rival when they met in the heats.

The second round will be held on January 5th