Pirates fall short in Knockout Cup after dramatic defeat at Berwick

Poole Pirates co-team manager Gary Havelock described as “really disappointing” the end of their Knockout Cup campaign after losing the in the semi-final to Berwick Bandits.

After sealing a four-point advantage on home shale on Wednesday, Poole were thumped 55-35 at Shielfield Park – meaning a 98-82 loss on aggregate.

Richard Lawson (12) top scored for the visitors on his return to the side, but a patched up Poole outfit struggled at reserve with guest Simon Lambert (3) and Kyle Newman (2) failing to fire with extra rides.

Havelock, who remains in charge of Poole’s northern fixtures, said: “It’s really disappointing.

“We just didn’t get going at all tonight, and fair play to Berwick, the better team on the night won and that’s all I can say.”

There was a flashpoint during the contest in heat 10 when Poole’s Cooper Rushen was controversially disqualified for allegedly causing Jye Etheridge to fall. The Bandits captain was not impressed with the British youngster in the aftermath.

Rushen, however, disagreed with the decision to exclude him from the re-run.

He said: “I don’t really know what happened, to be honest. I was just riding my bike and the red lights came on. Like I said, I don’t have a clue what happened.

“He was done and I thought he had just come down on his own. Then the red mist came over him, I think, and he had a little paddywack and didn’t like that too much.

“I am just trying to get on with my career. I’m doing what I love and I am not going to let anyone stop that.

“It is disappointing that we won’t be going into the final this year. It has been a very successful club, and it is a shame that we can’t still aim for the treble again now. But the double is still on.”

(Picture: Taylor Lanning Photography)