PREVIEW: Spires squad in high spirits ahead of Sheffield trip

Peter Schroeck has predicted an entirely different challenge when Oxford Spires travel to Yorkshire on Thursday to race defending ROWE Motor Oil Premiership champions Sheffield.

The Spires defeated Tigers 47-43 on home shale last week as heat leader Charles Wright weighed-in with a match-winning 11-point haul despite crashing out of his last ride.

That night was Sheffield’s first time on track in 2024, with Simon Stead’s side since securing two Premiership points away to Birmingham Brummies having come from 10 points down to win a Super Heat following a 45-45 draw.

With track time in the bag, Schroeck expects Sheffield to be on their a-game when they race at Owlerton for the first time since lifting the Premiership trophy last autumn.

“Sheffield have already announced they’re going to be a big player in the Premiership this season, in my view,” said Schroeck. “They’ve showed a lot of determination and fight in their two meetings to date, so we’ll need to be riding at our best on Thursday.

“As for ourselves, confidence and spirit in the camp is really high with two wins under our belt before the turn of the month. What excites me is we still have room for improvement, which I’d expect at this time of year given we’re only in the opening weeks of the season.

“Thursday will be a new challenge for the team, but most of the boys have experience riding at Sheffield so we’ll look to use that to our advantage. It’s a busy Easter weekend for the club – hopefully we can start things on the right note!”

Tapes-up at Owlerton Stadium on Thursday evening is at 7.30pm.

Oxford Spires: Maciej Janowski, Charles Wright, Nicolai Klindt, Chris Harris ©, Rohan Tungate, Lewis Kerr, Ashton Boughen.

Sheffield Tigers: Jack Holder, Kyle Howarth, Chris Holder, Josh Pickering, Tai Woffinden, Jason Edwards, Dan Gilkes.