CHEETAHS VALUE TEAM SPIRIT

OXFORD captain Scott Nicholls has highlighted the value of teamwork as they go into the Cab Direct Championship Grand Final against old rivals Poole this week.

Cheetahs host the first leg of the title decider at Cowley on Wednesday before the return takes place at Wimborne Road 48 hours later.

The Pirates have performed strongly at Oxford this season, losing by one point in the BSN Series whilst the league match went to a Super Heat after a 45-45 draw – but after a heavy defeat on their first visit to Dorset, Cheetahs ended Poole’s 42-match unbeaten home run with a 49-41 in August.

Nicholls said: “The two legs of the Final are going to be very much a team effort. Riders do put themselves under pressure for meetings like this, but it’s how you respond to that.

“If a rider is going well and is on form, we’ve got to keep them in the right place. If they’re not having such a good night, we need to help them turn it around.

“Both myself as captain and Pete (Schroeck) as team manager will be looking to get the maximum out of the boys.

“But it extends beyond that. All the team will be mucking in and helping each other – it’s team spirit that can make such a difference on these occasions and we have a good team spirit.”