OXFORD Spires pushed defending Premiership champions Sheffield Tigers close at Owlerton, before losing 49-41.

Craig Cook enjoyed a memorable debut for Spires, after signing a short-term deal to cover for Lewis Kerr, who is sidelined with an ankle injury.

He was only denied a paid 18-point maximum when Chris Holder overhauled him on the final lap of Heat 12.

Spires started the evening by conceding five 4-2s in the opening five races, before Cook and skipper Chris Harris took a 4-2 in Heat 9.

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A 5-1 to Tai Woffinden and Jack Holder in Heat 13 secured victory on the night for Tigers, but there was still the aggregate bonus point for Spires to go for.

Initially, Cook and Rohan Tungate held a 5-1 in Heat 14. Josh Pickering passed Tungate for second place, and Cook then held off Pickering to win the race.

Spires needed a 5-1 in Heat 15 to tie on aggregate, and force a super heat. Cook led the way, but Jack Holder held off Tungate for second place, before Woffinden then relieved Tungate of third place.

Cook (16) and Tungate (10) were the leading lights for Spires, while there was a seven-point tally from Erik Riss.

Cook said: “I’m happy to be back in the top flight and delighted to start with such a great meeting for myself.

“It was a shame that the team just lost out, but Sheffield are the champions and their boys are very strong around here.

“All we can do is look forward. I’ve ridden with most of my teammates at Oxford before and I’m excited to see what the next matches bring, because we’ve got a good side.

“I was a bit gutted that I went just a little bit wide in one race and Chris [Holder] came past, otherwise I’d ended up with an 18-point maximum, but I can’t complain too much after scoring 16 points around here.”