IT looks like Poole Pirates have done it again.

Matt Ford was refusing to get carried away after his new-look team bagged another piece of treasure.

But away from the centre-green microphone and cameras, he would no doubt have allowed himself a smile.

Because if first impressions prove an accurate gauge, the Wimborne Road chief appears to have built another team capable of greatness.

After a chilly evening’s entertainment inside Poole Stadium, a promising performance from the class of 2012 would have warmed the hearts of the Pirates faithful.

While the Elite Shield is not the most glamorous prize on the club’s radar this year, it is a start. One competition, one trophy – you cannot ask much more than that.

Ford, quite rightly, will not read too much into these early-season skirmishes.

Home and away victories over a Wolverhampton team containing the likes of Freddie Lindgren and Tai Woffinden is no mean feat, while Poole’s solid scoring from one to seven was a major bonus.

But only once the Elite League campaign sparks into life can the true judgements be made.

Ford clearly recognises that, yet it was still hard not to be optimistic about what eventually became a resounding win last night.

The hosts did not have things all their own way, only pulling clear in the closing stages.

But once they spotted a chance to move ahead, they displayed the sort of ruthlessness that should serve them well when things get more serious later this year.

Defending a narrow 46-44 lead from Monday’s first leg, Pirates did not make an ideal start when captain Chris Holder suffered a defeat at the hands of Grand Prix rival Lindgren.

But Pirates’ response was immediate as new boys Todd Kurtz and Ricky Kling gave a taste of the sting in Poole’s tail by delivering the first 5-1 of the Wimborne Road season.

There was more to come in heat three, though this time the frontrunner cut a familiar figure. Darcy Ward took his usual outside route past the pits to roar clear and win at a canter, with Dennis Andersson ensuring another maximum return.

Wolves hit back in race four courtesy of a fantastic battling win by Tai Woffinden. With Kurtz and Adrian Miedzinski getting off to a flyer, the 21-year-old edged out Miedzinski before cutting under Kurtz to take the flag.

Not content with his victory over Holder, Lindgren completed a rare double against Pirates’ all- conquering Turbo Twins by holding off Ward in the fifth outing of the evening.

Holder ensured it was normal service resumed when he blasted from the traps for a comfortable heat six.

Ty Proctor defied a numerical disadvantage to defeat Miedzinski and Kling in a re-run race seven after Klindt had been excluded. The unfortunate Pirates duo had been ahead when the Wolves man hit the deck.

That typified the fact that Wolves were refusing to let Poole Coastal Aluminium break away and they kept the second-leg deficit at eight points when Ricky Wells held off Masters.

Woffinden continued his form to emerge victorious from a ferocious tussle with Ward in heat nine. The Wolves number five led all the way and maintained his advantage under extreme pressure from the Aussie ace, who, for once, was unable to find a way past, despite using every inch of the Wimborne Road track.

After three Wolves wins in a row, the visitors were still in touch and the verdict was far from secure for Pirates.

But up stepped Holder to register what was only his team’s fourth victory in 10 heats. Masters produced heroics of his own alongside the skipper as he kept Klindt at bay to secure a 5-1 that handed the hosts a hefty 14-point aggregate lead.

Peter Adams responded by sending out his top gun Lindgren in search of double points. But the tactical ride – Wolves’ final throw of the dice – was thwarted by majestic Miedzinski, who endeared himself to the home faithful with a tapes-to-flag romp.

If those two heats had helped Pirates put one hand on the silverware, both were firmly clamped around the trophy when Ward stormed clear of Klindt to in heat 12.

By now, Miedzinski had clearly got the measure of his new surroundings and the 26-year-old left both Holder and Lindgren trailing as he claimed the heat 13 spoils.

Kling built on his impressive debut in Monday’s first leg by taking his tally to paid nine with a heat-14 success.

Holder and Ward then rounded off the evening in predictable fashion by putting Wolves’ top duo Lindgren and Woffinden firmly in their place.

While it was not one-way traffic until the closing stages, Pirates finished in a style that sounded a clear message to their rivals.