The Oxford Spires defeated champions Sheffield Tigers in front of a packed Cowley crowd to make it two wins out of two in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.
The Spires took the meeting 47-43 after racing into a ten-point advantage inside ten heats before the Tigers fought back in the closing stages.
Charles Wright bounced back from his crash last week to top score for the hosts with 11 points, whilst Rohan Tungate and captain Chris Harris both scored nine.
Tai Woffinden led the way for the visitors with 12 from six rides, despite mechanical gremlins in one outing, whilst Jack Holder bounced back from a slow start to score 9+1.
Oxford manager Peter Schroeck said: “We knew Sheffield would bring some firepower to the meeting and they did just that.
“They were on it from the start despite not having a practice together – so we had to race hard and respond, which is what the boys did.
“We ran three last places all night, which ultimately has won us the meeting. It was a real team performance and the boys stuck together which I’m pleased to see – and again the support on the terraces was outstanding, which always helps.”
Sheffield boss Simon Stead said: “I thought we were unlucky. We were a little bit rusty in the early heats, we had a few dropped points, and we were a little bit unfortunate with an electrical failure for Tai – if that had finished how the race was preceding, then we’d have had a draw.
“It was a difficult one having not had a practice ourselves, going straight into somewhere that was new to a lot of the lads and against a team who have had one meeting here already on top of a full day of practice last week.
“We came back at them though and we looked better overall as the meeting went on, so there are positives we can take from this first one, and that’s what I’d like us to focus on.”
Oxford Spires 47: Maciej Janowski 5+3, Charles Wright 11, Nicolai Klindt 5+2, Chris Harris 9, Rohan Tungate 9, Lewis Kerr 7+1, Ashton Boughen 1.
Sheffield Tigers 43: Jack Holder 9+1, Kyle Howarth 5, Chris Holder 5+1, Josh Pickering 7, Tai Woffinden 12, Jason Edwards 3, Dan Gilkes 2+1.
Words by British Speedway – Feature Image by Les Aubrey
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