NEIL Middleditch tried to look on the bright side after wet weather had again delayed the start of Pirates' season.

The Dorset club had been due to begin their SGB Premiership campaign at home to Wolverhampton tonight but the meeting was called off this morning.

Poole are yet to turn a wheel this year after the club's 70th anniversary meeting was postponed, as well as the Knockout Cup double header against Somerset.

Former Grand Prix star Peter Kildemand had been set to deputise against the Wolves for Chris Holder, who is due to miss a handful of fixtures due to undisclosed personal issues.

Team boss Middleditch told the Daily Echo: "If there is a positive from the weather, it's that we won't miss Chris for too many meetings. That's the only positive we can take.

"I'm sure I've known a start to the season like it at some point down the years but at the moment I've got no memory of it.

"It's a huge shame for the riders, management and fans. Losing the anniversary meeting was devastating financially for Matt (Ford, boss).

"What can you do? It's England, isn't it? We've got to get the ball rolling and try to get things going."

Pirates are due to open their league campaign at Leicester on Monday, a meeting Middleditch will miss as he is fulfilling commitments abroad.

However, the 61-year-old will be back at the helm for the home clash with Belle Vue on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Ford has announced further details of the Poole versus Yarmouth meeting, which is due to take place on Thursday, April 26.

The fixture is being held to commemorate the teams' clash at Wimborne Road on that date 70 years ago, making it Poole's official birthday.

Ford said: "I'm going to allow season ticket holders in free of charge because they lost out on the 70th anniversary meeting.

"We do intend to do an enormous amount of promotion so there will be highly discounted tickets available for everyone.

"I want it to be a very inclusive event for the people of Poole.

"Several ex-riders are going to come down and we are going to have a history of Poole Speedway in the afternoon from 3pm onwards in the grandstand, so there will plenty to see."

Elsewhere, Brady Kurtz racked up 14 points from six rides in Leszno's 47-43 friendly win over hosts Rybnik on Tuesday.

Kacper Woryna scored a perfect nine points from his three rides for Rybnik, while Mateusz Szczepaniak got six paid seven from four rides.