BIG BOOST FOR CHARGERS

OXFORD are celebrating qualification for the National Development League play-offs – and will stage the home leg of their semi-final at Cowley on Wednesday (October 5).

The Chargers went into the weekend in fourth place but required closest challengers Belle Vue to fail to score at Armadale, and with that scenario having unfolded they will now face the league leaders, whose identity will be determined following the Leicester v Berwick fixture.

Manager Peter Schroeck said: “It’s a great achievement to reach the play-offs and I’m so pleased for everyone connected to the club – Jamie (Courtney), Kevin (Boothby), all the riders, all the fans, everyone.

“We knew it was out of our hands and we needed Belle Vue to slip up. But that’s the exciting thing about the NDL – it’s so unpredictable and anything can happen.

“I had a bit of a set-to with the Edinburgh management when the Cheetahs were up there earlier in the season, but I think it’s time to say a big thank you to everyone involved up there, for making sure their riders went out with the right attitude against Belle Vue.

“I feel the Chargers stand every chance in the play-offs. There isn’t a stand-out team in the NDL who are going to run away with the play-offs. All four teams in the play-offs have a chance of winning them.”