PREVIEW: Cheetahs resume Championship campaign following five-week break
The Monarch Oxford Cheetahs resume their Cab Direct Championship campaign against Birmingham Brummies at Perry Barr on Wednesday evening following a month off.
Cheetahs were last in league action exactly five weeks ago when defeating Redcar Bears 52-38 on home shale in front of a jubilant crowd at Oxford Stadium.
Peter Schroeck’s side has since exited the all-new BSN Series and prestigious Knockout Cup. But that has only served as a motivator ahead of tonight’s meeting in the midlands.
Perry Barr has been a happy hunting ground for Cheetahs since the club made its extraordinary return to the shale in April 2022. A shock 43-47 Championship win in May last year was followed by a tense 46-44 Jubilee League loss in August.
Schroeck has backed his men to push the Brummies to another last-heat decider and is excited for the challenge ahead.
“It seems a while since we’ve taken to the track for Championship duties, but the boys are fired up and ready to get on with the league now,” said Schroeck. “I’ve been really encouraged by what I’ve seen since our league opener against Redcar.
“Sam (Masters) and Scott (Nicholls) have led from the front, Cameron, Lewis and Jordan have all chipped in with some valuable points and Henry has been flying for the Chargers and has a great opportunity tonight to get in the thick of the action.
“Ryan is working hard too, so as unit we’re in a good place right now. Birmingham are going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment, but that counts for nothing.
“We approach this meeting as we do every other knowing we must be on our a-game. We had some decent travelling support in Poole last week so hopefully we’ll see more of the same in the midlands tonight.”
Tapes-up at Perry Barr is at 7.30pm.
Oxford: Sam Masters, Cameron Heeps, Lewis Kerr, Jordan Jenkins, Scott Nicholls, Henry Atkins, Ryan Kinsley.
For those unable to make it to Birmingham tonight, the meeting is being live streamed for only £11.99 at: http://brummies.tv