OXFORD boss Peter Schroeck thanked the FANS for spurring them onto glory against defending champions Sheffield.
The Spires maintained their 100 per cent record in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership, surviving a spirited fightback to beat the Tigers. Having raced to a ten-point lead inside ten heats they eventually took the win 47-43, Charles Wright bouncing back from the previous week’s big crash to top score with 11 points.
Rohan Tungate and captain Chris Harris both scored nine while the visitors were superbly led by Tai Woffinden who scored 12 from six rides, despite mechanical problems. Jack Holder bounced back from a slow start to score 9+1 but the Spires’ strength in depth saw them home, roared on by another big Cowley crowd.
Delighted Oxford boss Schroeck said: “We knew Sheffield would bring some firepower to the meeting and they did just that.
“They were on it from the start so we had to race hard and respond, which is what the boys did. We only ran three lasts all night, which ultimately won us the meeting.
“It was a real team performance and the boys stuck together and again the support on the terraces was outstanding, which always helps.”
Sheffield boss Simon Stead said: “We were a little bit rusty in the early heats, we had a few dropped points, and were a little bit unfortunate with an electrical failure for Tai - if that had finished how the race was proceeding, then we’d have had a draw.
“It was difficult having not had a practice ourselves and going straight into somewhere that was new to a lot of the lads against a team who have had one meeting here already on top of a full day of practice last week.
“We came back at them though and we looked better overall as the meeting went on, so there are positives we can take from this first one, and that’s what I’d like us to focus on.”
Sheffield travel to Birmingham on Monday night before opening their home season with the reverse fixture against the Spires at Owlerton on Thursday.
Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.