PIRATES team boss Neil Middleditch was gutted to be denied victory on the road and admitted: "I felt Leicester were there for the taking."

The Lions prevented a winning debut for Poole number one Grzegorz Zengota as they delivered a dramatic heat-15 maximum which ensured a 45-45 draw at Beaumont Park on Saturday.

It was an impressive effort from the hosts, who were missing no fewer than four regulars in Josh Bates, Erik Riss, Jason Garrity and Danny Ayres, while Pirates were lacking talented Aussie duo Brady Kurtz and Jack Holder.

Reflecting on his team's first SGB Premiership meeting in nearly a month, Middleditch told the Daily Echo: "I was disappointed not to win. I thought we gave away some points.

"We had an unfortunate situation in Zengi's second ride where Josh Grajczonek stopped on the start line, it broke Zengi's concentration and he thought the race was going to be stopped but it wasn't.

"He lost a steel shoe in another ride and Nicolai Klindt had some bike trouble.

"It was unfortunate that in the last race, Kim Nilsson and Danny King outgated Hans Andersen and Zengi. Zengi battled to try to get past but couldn't quite do it.

"He did fine at a tricky track which has been changed since he last rode it. In the race he won, he was half a straight in front so the signs are good.

"Overall, I was fairly pleased with the performance but disappointed not to get the win. I shouldn't be because to get a couple of points away from home is always good but I felt Leicester were there for the taking."

Pirates used Wolverhampton's in-form flier Rory Schlein and rider replacement in the absence of Kurtz and Holder due to Under-21 World Cup semi-final commitments.

For Leicester, Wolves's Mark Riss and Belle Vue youngster Jack Smith guested at reserve, while Somerset's Grajczonek took his place in the main body and rider replacement was operated for Erik Riss.

Polish ace Zengota finished second in a shared opener before Mark Riss and Smith blitzed to a 5-1 in the reserves' race.

The visitors clawed themselves level in time for heat six thanks to wins for Andersen and Schlein and a couple of non-finishes for Grajczonek.

Klindt then celebrated his full transfer to Pirates with a maximum alongside Andersen but after heat seven was shared, Klindt packed up and allowed the Lions to level with a 5-1.

Retaining his record of being unbeaten by an opponent, Andersen headed a race nine heat advantage but the Lions quickly returned the favour.

Zengota got his first win in the skull and crossbones from the gate and the Klindt-Kyle Newman combination gave the visitors a four-point lead with three races left.

A third triumph for Nilsson – ahead of Andersen – narrowed the gap but when Klindt and Schlein secured a 4-2 in the penultimate heat, Pirates were within touching distance of victory.

However, a closing maximum from King and Nilsson ensured Poole took away two points rather than three.