TEAM boss Cami Brown hailed “hero” Freddy Hodder after a stunning win at Oxford.
The Allied Vehicles Tigers took a vital 49-41 victory in the Cab Direct Championship last night (Weds).
Hodder was the star of the show with a sensational paid 12-point maximum from reserve backed up by equally big displays from Leon Flint and Kyle Howarth.
Brown said: “It’s an absolutely huge win for us. After the disappointment of losing at Berwick, this is just the shot in the arm we needed.
“It was a simply incredible performance from Freddy, he was the hero and he will rightly get all the headlines. To get the first-ever maximum of his career away from home is out of this world.
“This is the Freddy we know can deliver. Now the key for him is doing it more often.
“But it also must not overshadow equally vital displays from Kevin Juhl Pedersen and Mario Hausl. They made their debuts at Oxford and did a fine job.
“Leon Flint and Kyle Howarth both got double figures and that’s what we need. Sam Hagon was steady. Chris Harris had an off night but luckily the other boys covered for him on this occasion.
“So many times Chris has carried the team, it was nice he was given a night off for a change!
“Now our focus turns to making sure we win and get the aggregate bonus point against Scunthorpe at Ashfield on Friday night.”
Oxford made the perfect start with a 5-1 in Heat 1 but a strong 5-1 in the next race from Hodder and Hausl hauled the scoreline level.
Hodder then repeated the feat in Heat 4 with Kyle Howarth to put the Tigers in front.
Howarth delivered a big 5-1 with Hausl in Heat 9 and Juhl Pedersen beat Sam Masters in the next and the Tigers lead had increased to eight points.
The Cheetahs hit back with a tactical substitute 5-1 in Heat 11 but Hodder then passed Anders Rowe to deliver 4-2 in the next.
The vital away win was completed by Pedersen and Hausl packing in for a 3-3 to wrap up the points in Heat 14.
CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP
OXFORD 41: Sam Masters 14+2. Luke Killeen 8, Anders Rowe 6, Mitch McDiarmid 5+1, Edward Kennett 4, Darryl Ritchings 4, Dayle Wood 0.
GLASGOW 49: Freddy Hodder 10+2, Leon Flint 10, Kyle Howarth 9+1, Mario Hausl 6+2, Kevin Juhl Pedersen 6, Sam Hagon 4+1, Chris Harris 4.
Image by Les Aubrey.