OXFORD Chargers duo Jordan Jenkins and Sam Hagon reached the semi-finals of the National League Pairs.

The rising stars finished second in Group B before losing 7-2 to hosts and eventual champions Leicester Lion Cubs.

Chargers faced an uphill struggle after conceding a 6-3 to Plymouth Centurions in heat four, but they re-emerged four races later to face Mildenhall Fen Tigers on a track that was far less rough.

Jenkins took a comfortable triumph over Redcar Bears teammate Jason Edwards, with Hagon crossing the line third to secure a 6-3 in their favour.

They secured their place in the semi-finals with another win by the same scoreline, this time over Kent Royals. Jenkins eased to victory and Hagon took another key third place.

Plymouth pipped Chargers to top spot but they finished a point ahead of Mildenhall to set up a meeting with Leicester in the last four.

Jenkins did his best to battle twins Dan and Joe Thompson, but the latter eventually passed the visiting captain to take second place and secure a 7-2.

Leicester went on to beat Armadale Devils by the same margin in the final.

Jenkins said: “The Thompsons were always going to be hard to stop around here.

“It’s a shame we couldn’t have finished top of our group, because they would have given us an easier semi-final and given us a chance of reaching the final and facing Leicester in that race.”

Chargers host Mildenhall at Sandy Lane on Wednesday as they look to cement a play-off place in the National Development League.

SCORERS

GROUP 1

LEICESTER 21: Joe Thompson 12, Dan Thompson 9.

ARMADALE 13: Tom Woolley 8, Elliot Kelly 5.

BERWICK 12: Greg Blair 9, Luke Crang 3.

BELLE VUE 8: Jack Smith 8, Harry McGurk 0.

GROUP 2

PLYMOUTH 16: Adam Roynon 10, Rhys Naylor 6.

OXFORD 15: Jordan Jenkins 11, Sam Hagon 4.

MILDENHALL 14: Jason Edwards 11, Jack Kingston 3.

KENT 9: Ben Morley 9, Sam Woolley 0.

SEMI-FINAL 1: D Thompson, J Thompson, Jenkins, Hagon – Leicester beat Oxford 7-2.

SEMI-FINAL 2: Roynon, Kelly, T. Woolley, Naylor (f.exc) – Armadale beat Plymouth 5-4.

GRAND FINAL: D Thompson, J Thompson, Kelly, Woolley – Leicester beat Armadale 7-2.