REPORT: Cheetahs stretch unbeaten run against determined Bandits

The Monarch Oxford Cheetahs registered three maximum race advantages in the concluding three heats to record a 53-37 win over Berwick Bandits on Wednesday night.

Led by Sam Masters – who returned with a paid maximum – Cheetahs were made to work hard as Berwick trailed by only four points at the interval.

A string of three successive maximums took the meeting away from the Northumberland outfit though as Scott Nicholls, Cameron Heeps and Masters took the flag in heats 13, 14 and 15 respectively.

Riding at number two for the first time, Henry Atkins returned with a valuable three points while Lewis Kerr registered 12+1. Heeps scored strongly at reserve with 9+1 – a score matched by Scott Nicholls – while Jordan Jenkins returned with 5+2 and Ryan Kinsley added a point to Cheetahs’ total.

Team Manager Peter Schroeck said: “We knew Berwick had the capacity to push us hard and they did just that.

“We just started to establish a foothold in the meeting and they hit us with a maximum in heat nine. Credit to Berwick, the final score doesn’t reflect how close the meeting was and we had to battle hard for the points.

“But I believe in the quality we have and that shone through in the closing races. Again, the crowd was fantastic – the good times keep rolling and we’ve got another big fixture against Edinburgh to refocus for next week.”

The Monarch Oxford Cheetahs return to Oxford Stadium next Wednesday, July 12, when Edinburgh Monarchs visit in the Cab Direct Championship. Tickets will be on sale shortly and ALL U16s are admitted free.