TEAM boss Neil Middleditch labelled the nine-point win over Edinburgh Monarchs as “acceptable” for Poole Pirates.

Poole will take a lead to Armadale next week, having emerged 49-40 victors at Wimborne Road on Wednesday night, in the first leg of the Knockout Cup quarter-final.

Reflecting on the result, Middleditch said: “Acceptable. I said before the meeting that 10 would be the least I would like and we’ve got nine, so we got close to that.

“We’re capable of going up there and hanging on to that.”

Gary Havelock will take team manager duties for the second leg.

“He’ll know what’s going on, but I normally have a chat with him," said Middleditch.

“I think we take the positives. It’s early. We’ve had very little track time.

“A couple of the boys have been having meetings in the Championship and Premiership together, but some of the boys are not getting that track time.

“They need the track time.”