PIRATES star Davey Watt admitted he "just had to grin and bear it" despite being on the end of a controversial tapes offence against Swindon.

The luckless Poole Castle Cover heat leader was put back 15 metres for touching the tapes in heat four by referee Chris Gay.

But only after Robins rider Troy Batchelor had clearly moved at the start first, albeit inadvertently as well.

Straight after the red light came on to signify Watt was being penalised, it was announced Batchelor had been publicly warned by the ref to stand still at the start.

That decision incurred the wrath of many Pirates fans whom verbally directed their anger towards the ref's box because they felt Watt had been harshly treated.

Looking back on the incident, which happened during Poole's 58-35 home win on Wednesday, Watt said: "I wasn't happy.

"I was standing still at the start line and Troy was the one who moved which triggered me off."

Watt added: "I jumped. You are concentrating so hard at the tapes that when one little thing happens you react to it because you are just waiting for the tapes to go up.

"Unfortunately for me, he jumped and didn't touch the tapes and I jumped and did, and I was the one excluded for it.

"He was the one who caused it to happen but I was the one punished.

"It's the same for everyone, though. It's something that happens. You feel quite hard done by, but there's nothing you can do about it.

"In that situation, you'd like to think the rider who does touch the tapes, without doing anything wrong, shouldn't be penalised. It should be all four back.

"But that is the rule and you have to live with it. I just think it was unfortunate and it was the beginning of a difficult night for me. Those are the rules. Whether you love them or hate them you have to deal with it.

"I was the one at fault and I just have to grin and bear it because over the course of time, I'm sure I'll jump and send someone else through them."

Watt, who struggled for five paid six after finishing last from a 15 metres handicap, was frustrated Batchelor was given a warning.

Poole's rider said: "The ref warned us not to move, then he excluded me straight away when he knows full well it was Troy who set me off. But that's what happens."

Watt was glad all his team-mates stepped up to the plate to cover for his low key performance.

He said: "We know there's a real possibility of Swindon coming here in the play-off semi.

"It was great to punish them a bit and hopefully they will lose confidence when they come here next time.

"If we do get them in the semis, they know they'll have to do something really remarkable because we have seven guys who are all going very well."