PREVIEW: GLASGOW v POOLE (CAB DIRECT CHAMP GRAND FINAL)

GLASGOW and Poole battle it out for the Cab Direct Championship title in the second leg of the Grand Final at Ashfield tonight (Friday).

It was advantage Pirates after the first leg as the defending champions won 51-39 at Wimborne Road, with a 5-1 in the last race from Richard Lawson and Zach Cook taking their lead into double-figures.

The Dorset club are seeking a fourth league title in five years and to take the second trophy in what could potentially be the retention of last season’s Treble, whilst the Tigers were the side to break Poole’s Championship dominance when they defeated them in the 2023 Grand Final.

The teams are unchanged from the opening clash and Pirates promoter Dan Ford has summed up the mood as they head into what is set to be the most intense clash of the campaign.

Ford said: “Glasgow is an incredibly hard place to go to as they are very strong at home, and so we have to be positive and set about stopping them getting heat advantages which could quickly whittle away our lead.

“It is going to be a tense battle, that’s for sure, and we cannot afford any below-par performances. We need an all-round team performance, each of the lads riding to their best ability.

“We have been asking that a lot from the boys in recent weeks but I know they have it in them to respond.

“We are precious about our trophies and this is one we desperately want to keep in our cabinet.”

Glasgow manager Cami Brown said: “I firmly believe that this team has got one last big performance in its locker.  They have shown the hunger and determination to do the job that is needed. 

“The last home meeting against Edinburgh in the play-off semi-final was proper edge-of-the-seat stuff and the most dramatic conclusion. 

“Now the boys have got to produce something similar tonight to win the league title. 

“We’ve hit 53 points or over six times already this season at Ashfield. We can do it again and create more history.”

GLASGOW: Chris Harris, Villads Nagel, Dan Thompson, Leon Flint, Kyle Howarth, Freddy Hodder, Max Perry.

POOLE: Richard Lawson, Tobias Thomsen, Lewis Kerr, Zach Cook, Anders Rowe, Paul Starke, Will Cairns.

SCB Referee: Craig Ackroyd

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