PIRATES heat leader Lukas Dryml believes they can still improve on their first-half-of-the-season performances following a comfortable 49-41 win at Oxford.

The Czech Republic and Grand Prix star rattled up 11 paid 12 points at Cowley as Poole Meridian Lifts briefly went to the top of the Elite League table on Friday night.

But Coventry took over the perch position again only 24 hours later with a 49-41 home win over Wolves.

The Bees were one point ahead of Pirates following that triumph with both sides having raced the same number of meetings.

Coventry then beat Ipswich 54-36 at home last night in the live Sky Sports television match of the week and are now three points ahead of third-placed Pirates having ridden one more match.

It is an interesting scenario following Poole's impressive run of six straight wins in the league.

Early in the season it looked as though Coventry would romp away with first place as they got off to their best start for 22 years with seven straight league triumphs, which equalled their club record at the beginning of a campaign.

After building up a 10-point lead on Poole by the last week of April, there is now only a three-point gap.

And Dryml believes Pirates are only going to get better as both sides chase a top spot at the end of the season in the build up to the top-four title play-offs.

A top-two position would guarantee a home tie in the play-off semi-finals before a two-legged climax to decide the destiny of the crown.

Dryml admitted he was not particularly surprised by Poole's win at Oxford, although it was the Silver Machines' first home league defeat in five matches this season.

He said: "I thought we could win, although their side looked strong if you looked at the names of their riders on paper.

"Oxford have been pretty consistent this season but we are a very good team. We all did a good job.

"It was a great result. I think we showed we are getting better. But we need to be more consistent. There is still a lot of time to improve before the end of the season."

Dryml, Tony Rickardsson (12+2) and Leigh Adams (9+1) amassed 32 paid 36 points between them at Cowley, an ominous sign for the rest of the top flight.

It was, perhaps, the first time all three Poole heat leaders had clicked in unison this term, especially away from home.

Dryml, who joined Poole on loan at the beginning of this season from Oxford, said: "Hopefully it should be a good sign. We would like to do that all the time"

Bjarne Pedersen, David Ruud and Krzysztof Kasprzak also scored well at Oxford, with only reserve Davey Watt out of tune.

Dryml said: "When everyone in the team is scoring well it puts less pressure on the heat leaders. That has to be good."

Talking before the Bees' triumph over Wolves the following day, Dryml added: "We must try to keep on top of the league because getting into the play-offs are the most important thing.

"We must get a good position to make things easier for ourselves."

Dryml, who finished third in heat three at Cowley, said: "I was happy with my own performance at Oxford, although I was a little bit disappointed with my first heat, I didn't get out of the gate quick enough. After that I had plenty of speed.

"The track was a little bit different than usual at Oxford. I think it is better to race on now.

"There was more grip and race lines. They had to change it and the track is good now. I enjoy riding there.

"It was my home track for three years. Poole is my home track now but I still count this as a home track.

"I should get good scores at Oxford."