REACTION: “To lose Lewi in the first race with an injury and still take the victory makes it an even better result. The boys dug deep.”

MONARCH Oxford Cheetahs showed both their mental strength and fighting abilities, when they won 46-44 at Berwick last night (Saturday), despite third heat-leader Lewis Kerr crashing out with a knee injury in the opening race.

The result places Cheetahs back at the top of the Cab Direct Championship table, as they maintained their 100% record in the competition with four wins out of four.

While skipper Scott Nicholls and No 1 Sam Masters were in brilliant form – the pair were only beaten in Heat 15 – it was key points scored by Henry Atkins, Jordan Jenkins and Cameron Heeps that made all the difference, as Cheetahs won without one of their star men.

With Berwick having declared a strong opening pairing, Cheetahs changed their riding order to counter that move. For a split-second, it seemed to be a master-stroke as Kerr and Masters shot out from the tapes in Heat 1. But Kerr picked up some unexpected drive and lifted into the first corner and took a heavy tumble. He eventually got to his feet, but he was unable to continue in the meeting.

There were times when Cheetahs looked highly up against up it without Kerr. Bandits charged into an early 12-6 lead, and the home side were again 32-28 ahead after 10 races. But Cheetahs simply wouldn’t give up the fight.

Oxford had an element of good fortune in Heat 7. Jenkins and Heeps made the start, but Thomas Jorgensen passed them both on the outside. But the Dane suffered an engine failure on the final lap, and Cheetahs took a 5-1 to reduce the gap to two points.

Heeps took an injury rider replacement ride for Kerr in Heat 8 and flew into the lead on the second bend and won the race in fine style from Leon Flint, while Atkins produced a battling ride to overtake Connor Coles for third place, as Cheetahs levelled the scores with a 4-2.

Ryan Kinsley may have failed to score for Cheetahs, but there was no lack of effort. In Heat 9, a good second bend took him into second place, behind Nicholls. Both Jye Etheridge and Jonas Knudsen then battled past Kinsley, but by that time, the flying Nicholls was way out in front.

Berwick re-took the lead with a 5-1 in Heat 10, before a brilliant ride by Atkins in Heat 11. While Masters was winning his third successive race, Atkins flew under Jorgensen on the fourth bend – a bend where the more conventional passing move is around the outside. Atkins fended off Jorgensen’s attempt to get back through, and even challenged Jacob Hook for second place at one point.

Atkins was even more impressive in Heat 12. A very tight first bend saw Heeps pushed wide and the Australian crashed down. Heeps picked up a very harsh exclusion from the re-run, although it’s questionable whether he’d have been fit, since he had aggravated a collarbone injury.

Atkins had been leading at the time of the stoppage and kept his cool to again win the re-run, ahead of Etheridge and Coles.

Cheetahs had a little moment of luck in Heat 13. Berwick guest Erik Riss trapped, but the race was stopped, with Masters warned for moving. In the re-run, Nicholls and Masters made perfect starts to take a 5-1 that placed Cheetahs in front for the first time at 40-38.

Jenkins and Atkins had completed their previous five meetings with a 5-1 as a pairing – three times for Chargers and then twice for Cheetahs. A fortnight earlier, Chargers had won 46-44 at Berwick, after the pairing had taken a 5-1 in Heat 15.

In Heat 14, they did it again, with their sixth concluding 5-1 as a pair – and few have been as important. Knudsen showed first, but Atkins raced around him down the back straight and then Jenkins followed into the third turn. Atkins and Jenkins held on for the 5-1 that won the meeting for Cheetahs with a race to spare.

Riss and Flint took a consolation 5-1 for Bandits in Heat 15, after Nicholls and Masters both missed the start and missed out on their maximums.

Oxford team manager Peter Schroeck believes Heeps will be fine to ride at Plymouth on Tuesday at home to Poole on Wednesday, while the club will await updates on Kerr.

Speaking post-meeting, skipper Scott Nicholls said: “It’s a big result to win here at Berwick, because they are tough on their own track – it’s not easy come away with a win from here. But to lose Lewi in the first race with an injury and still take the victory makes it an even better result.

“The boys dug in deep after he crashed out. It’s up to me and Sam to score heavily, but it was the performances of Henry, Jordan and Cam that made all the difference.

“Henry put in a fantastic performance – I think it’s the best meeting he’s had for the Cheetahs, because this isn’t an easy track, and he took some vital points at a big time in the meeting.

“Henry and Jordan doing the business in Heat 14 and winning the meeting in that race was great and took the pressure off. It would have been for both Sam and my maximums had won Heat 15, but the meeting was already sewn up.

“Berwick is a physically demanding track and some of the boys had to take extra riders to cover for Lewi, and that means you have to keep up the mental strength. We did that and we took the win and it’s an awesome result for us.”

Berwick Bandits 44: Erik Riss (guest) 9+2, Leon Flint 10+2, Jye Etheridge 9, Jonas Knudsen 4+2, Thomas Jorgensen 1+1, Jacob Hook 5+1, Connor Coles 6+1.

Monarch Oxford Cheetahs 46: Sam Masters 11+1, Lewis Kerr 0, Cameron Heeps 6+1, Jordan Jenkins 7+1, Scott Nicholls 13, Henry Atkins 9, Ryan Kinsley 0.

PHOTO: Henry Atkins and Jordan Jenkins again clinched a victory for Oxford at Berwick – this time with a 5-1 in Heat 14 (PIC: STEVE EDMUNDS)