NEIL Middleditch refused to blame defeat to Somerset on track conditions at Wimborne Road.

Pirates were beaten 47-43 in the Knockout Cup on Wednesday, resulting in a 99-81 aggregate loss.

Asked by presenter Nigel Leahy if there remained issues with the track, team boss Middleditch said: “A little bit. With the weather, it has been very difficult to keep everybody happy with the dust.

“The water went down and was maybe a bit uneven in places and caused a few holes.

“No excuses, we were beaten by the better team but we made it respectable so it’s not all bad news.”

Questioned about the track, Poole number one Brady Kurtz felt it had improved.

He said: “Everyone was having a bit of a problem. But a track like this suits me more than one which is very slick.

“It’s about the team, not just me, and we need to find something which suits everyone and I think we’re getting closer.”

Kurtz increased to 25 paid 27 his tally for the week after blitzing to 13 paid 14 at Belle Vue on Monday.

He added: “It was good this week. As everyone saw, I had a tough week last week and it’s been good to come back and have two good meetings.

“Hopefully, I can stay at that level.”