PREVIEW: POOLE v OXFORD (C-KOC)

OXFORD will take a narrow two-point lead to Poole tonight (Wednesday) for the second leg of their Championship KO Cup semi-final.

The Cheetahs edged the opener at Cowley 46-44 thanks to another vintage display from skipper Scott Nicholls who scored 14 points from five rides and combined with Sam Masters for a match-winning 5-1 in Heat 15.

But the Pirates were satisfied with their situation at the halfway stage of the tie, as they came back strongly from eight points down with four races remaining to take the lead heading into the last race – inspired by former Oxford rider Kyle Newman, who scored 11+2 and was involved in two late 5-1s.

Cheetahs manager Peter Schroeck said: “We got really stuck in tonight and while there is some frustration in the camp that we let our eight-point lead slip we can’t be too hard on ourselves.

“Poole are a quality side, and we never expected them to roll over and let their mid-meeting blip get to them. They fought back hard and we’ve got to do the same in Dorset.”

Poole boss Neil Middleditch said: “We had our backs to the wall there at one stage, but the boys dug in and turned things around nicely. 

“We had a team talk at the interval and I said I was not happy being eight down. I could take a six-point loss, but I wouldn’t be happy.

“The boys responded in some tough heats so a two-point loss I’ve got to say I am pretty happy with, but there is still work to do.”

POOLE: Steve Worrall, Anders Rowe, Ben Cook, Zach Cook, Richard Lawson, Kyle Newman, Adam Roynon.
OXFORD: Sam Masters, Cameron Heeps, Lewis Kerr, Jordan Jenkins, Scott Nicholls, Henry Atkins, Ryan Kinsley.

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Photo credit: LES AUBREY