PIRATES' Knockout Cup quarter-final trip to Somerset tonight has been postponed.

Wet conditions and an unfavourable forecast prompted the decision to delay the fixture.

Rebels promoter Debbie Hancock told the club website: "We are absolutely gutted.

"There had been hope that with the forecast changing for the area, we could have beaten the weather this time.

"But this morning there seems to be no indication of that happening and we have had to make the decision.

"It is a huge disappointment as we had been really looking forward to getting our season under way and had been relishing the chance to take on Poole."

The teams had been scheduled to meet twice today but this lunchtime's clash at Wimborne Road was called off yesterday morning.

All four of Poole's fixtures so far this season have succumbed to the weather, directly or indirectly.

The 70th anniversary meeting was cancelled due to rain, while the SGB Premiership trip to Wolverhampton was postponed as the hosts had rearranged their press and practice for that day after snow intervened the previous week.

Neil Middleditch's men are due to host Wolverhampton in the SGB Premiership on Wednesday.