POOLE boss Danny Ford believes his side can win the Grand Final despite being in a “tight spot”
The Pirates Oxford are set to battle out a thrilling conclusion of the Cab Direct Championship title race at Wimborne Road tonight, live on BSN.
The Dorset club are seeking a third league success in four years having missed out in the Grand Final to Glasgow last season – but they face a 12-point deficit from the first leg against the Cheetahs, who last won a senior league title back in 2001.
Line-ups for both teams are unchanged from last Saturday’s opener at Cowley, which Oxford won 51-39, but the Cheetahs make a positional switch with guest Dan Gilkes moving to No.2 and Cameron Heeps taking over at No.4.
Poole promoter Dan Ford said: “We’ve been in tough spots before, and this is no different.
“Yes, a 12-point deficit is a big ask, but it’s not beyond us. The team is fired-up and ready to fight for every single point on Wednesday night.
“The riders were disappointed with how things went at Oxford on Saturday, but they’ve taken that frustration and turned it into motivation. They want to make things right – for themselves, for the club, and especially for the supporters.
“We need every Pirate supporter at Wimborne Road. Your energy, your passion, your noise, when you’re behind us, it makes all the difference.
“The lads feed off that, and in the biggest moments it’s the fans that turn a race in our favour. We’ve seen it time and time again. If we’re going to overcome this 12-point gap, it’s going to take a huge team effort, on and off the track.
“We’ve got everything to race for, and we believe we can do it. Fill the stands, bring your voices, and let’s make Wimborne Road a fortress. Together, we can turn this around. Let’s show Oxford what Pirate Pride really means.”
POOLE: Richard Lawson, Sam Hagon, Ben Cook, Zach Cook, Tom Brennan, Tobias Thomsen, Vinnie Foord.
OXFORD: Sam Masters, Dan Gilkes, Ashton Boughen, Cameron Heeps, Scott Nicholls, Luke Killeen, Jody Scott.
Stream live here.
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.