Preview: OXFORD V POOLE GRAND FINAL 1ST LEG

The Poole 'Wessex Marine' Pirates have turned to two former Pirates to replace the club's present captain, Ben Cook, for their assault at lifting the 2024 SGB Cab Direct Championship title. 

With treble-seeking skipper Ben Cook ruled out through concussion, sustained at Sheffield last Thursday as his ROWE Premiership side Belle Vue were sealing their place in the top flight play-off final, Poole bosses have booked Danny King for Wednesday night at Oxford and the inimitable Chris 'Bomber' Harris for Friday night at Wimborne Road.

Promoter Dan Ford feels there can be no better riders to turn to as the Pirates seek what would be their third Championship play-off title and thirteenth in total since play-offs were introduced. "Missing our captain, Ben Cook, is a big blow for us, but I'm happy with the guests we have secured. Danny King, a former Pirates captain, knows this club and what it means to compete in the big moments having led us to our two previous league titles at this level. Then for the second leg at Poole we've got none other than the 'Bomber' himself. He is one of the most exciting riders in British speedway and an absolute legend around Wimborne Road. He's known and loved for producing fireworks, especially in high-pressure meetings like this and we know that the fans are in for a treat. He's 'Mr Play-Offs' for a reason and we are confident that he'll deliver something special".

King last rode as a Pirate in 2022 when, with a double score of eight paid nine in the two legs of the Grand Final, he skippered the club to back to back league titles. His last Poole meeting was alongside Richard Lawson and Zach Cook, two riders he will join forces with again on Wednesday. The Pirates, other than the King for Cook change, will  be unchanged from the side that defeated Workington home and away in the semi-finals, with Ben's brother Zach assuming the duties of captain.

Oxford, who were given somewhat of a scare last Wednesday when Scunthorpe threatened to overturn a first leg home defeat in their semi-final clash, also have an injury-affected side with Jordan Jenkins and Adam Roynon both continuing to be sidelined. The Oxford club are looking for their first league title since 2001, the season immediately before the play-offs were introduced, when they beat the Pirates in to top spot by just one league point.

Teams
Oxford (TM Peter Schroeck) 1 Sam Masters 2 Cameron Heeps 3 Ashton Boughen 4 Dan Gilkes (Guest) 5 Scott Nicholls (capt) 6 Luke Killeen 7 Jody Scott (Guest)
Poole (TM Neil Middleditch) 1 Richard Lawson 2 Sam Hagon 3 Danny King (Guest) 4 Zach Cook (capt) 5 Tom Brennan 6 Tobias Thomsen 7 Vinnie Foord