Glasgow Tigers v Oxford Cheetahs

Report

GLASGOW made it into the Cab Direct Championship Grand Final as their crunch group decider against Oxford came down to a thrilling finale at Ashfield.

The Tigers needed to win the match by more than ten points and eventually triumphed 52-38, a result which appeared wholly unlikely when they trailed 9-15 on the night after four races.

Both teams used tactical substitutes during the meeting but the crucial phase was Heats 12-14 when Glasgow raced to three successive 5-1s, two of them featuring reserve Lee Complin.

Oxford needed a 5-1 from Heat 15 to force a Super Heat but although Sam Masters took the win, Scott Nicholls spun on turn three as he tried to move inside the Tigers duo.

Benjamin Basso led the scoring for the hosts with 13 whilst Tom Brennan added 11+1 with Chris Harris on 10+2, and Complin chipped in with a crucial. Nicholls had earlier scored 13 for the Cheetahs.

Glasgow boss Cami Brown said: “We had a team meeting just before Heat 11. I said to the boys we need four heat advantages. We can do this, we’ve done it all season.

“To be honest, I didn’t see us getting a 5-1s in Heat 12 and 13. Before we knew it, we were in the box seat.

“I think Oxford rode really well all night. Towards the end they wobbled a tad because that was the first time we had put pressure on them over the two ties.

“They played Scott Nicholls early in the rider replacement. It certainly didn’t backfire because they got the 5-1. But it perhaps made them weaker later in the meeting.

“We never gave up. This team never gives in. They have proved they have the character to go all the way.”

Glasgow will now host Poole in the first leg of the Grand Final on Friday (October 6) with the return at Wimborne Road on Wednesday October 11.

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF GROUP A
GLASGOW 52 Benjamin Basso 13, Tom Brennan 11+1, Chris Harris 10+2, Lee Complin 9+4, Vadim Tarasenko 8, Ace Pijper 1, Claus Vissing r/r
OXFORD 38 Scott Nicholls 13+1, Sam Masters 8+1, Lewis Kerr 6+1, Cameron Heeps 5, Henry Atkins 4, Ashton Boughen 2+1, Luke Killeen (No.8) 0 Jordan Jenkins r/r
Glasgow win the aggregate point

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Photo credit: IAN ADAM