FORD CELEBRATES 30TH TROPHY
POOLE owner Matt Ford revealed he was driven on by the memories of last season’s Grand Final defeat as the Dorset club became league champions once again.
The Pirates overcame Oxford in the Cab Direct Championship title decider, regaining the silverware they had lost to Glasgow last year when they were unable to turn around a first leg deficit.
It was a remarkable 30th team trophy for Poole under the tenure of Ford and manager Neil Middleditch, dating back to the Craven Shield in 20001.
Ford, who said: “I was so impressed with just how much everyone really wanted this.
“I just could not believe the spirit that this team has but let me say, nothing can put the hurt of last year behind me. I woke up this morning in a sweat just thinking about that.
“But we’ve done it, we have got the 30th trophy and let’s hope the 31st is in the Cab Direct KO Cup, although I am sure Oxford will want to have a say about that. I must applaud them for playing their part in such a thrilling meeting.
“They really put in a good performance up there in the first leg, pulling away in the latter stages and getting the good advantage. It really made our task that much harder, and they were keeping us out at times here tonight.”
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Photo credit: TONY HARTMAN
