OXFORD boss Peter Schroeck believes the loss of "trump card reserve" Luke Killeen cost his side the league title.
The second leg of the Cab Direct Championship Grand Final saw Pole Pirates take a 56-34 victory at Wimborne Road, taking the league title by 10 points on aggregate.
But for the Cheetahs, losing their reserve Luke Killeen proved to be the killer blow.
Schroeck said: “I think the loss of Luke is ultimately what killed us off tonight. We lost our trump card reserve.
“In his first race in Heat 2, Luke was left with nowhere to go.
“There were some weak refereeing decisions tonight and Luke should not have been excluded.
“He went out again, but he wasn’t right, came off again and he was withdrawn from the meeting.”
Killeen had starred with 11+3 points on his previous visit to Wimborne Road when the Cheetahs won the in the league, and also racked up 12+1 in the first leg of the Final against Poole at Cowley.
Schroeck added: “Jody Scott was lucky not to be hurt in Heat 8 when he was taken into the fence at speed.
“That could have been a very nasty one when he too was taken out by Vinnie Foord.
“The Poole boys were ruthless – particularly in the opening races.
“Both Sam Masters and Ashton Boughen had to pick themselves up after nasty crashes and that all took its toll.
“But all the boys battled on and I’m proud of their efforts.
“Congratulations to Poole on winning the league title.
“Once it settles down, we will start to reflect that we pushed them all the way and finished above seven other teams in the Cab Direct Championship.
“In the meantime, of course, it’s a tough one to take.
“But I got together the riders and mechanics and told them they’d given their all and to brush ourselves off and give it another go in the Cab Direct Knockout Cup Final, when we will try to repay the favour.”
Words by Freya Taylor.
Images by Taylor Lanning.