REPORT: Cheetahs go top after passing tricky Scorpions test on home shale

The Monarch Oxford Cheetahs returned to the top of the Cab Direct Championship table on Wednesday night after beating Scunthorpe Scorpions 50-40 at Oxford Stadium.

Cheetahs’ win moved the club one point ahead of Poole Pirates with both teams having one outstanding regular season fixture to complete before Sunday’s cut-off.

Pirates travel to Edinburgh tomorrow while Cheetahs are in action at Glasgow on Friday night. Should Poole draw or defeat Edinburgh, Cheetahs will be required to beat Glasgow if they are to end the regular season top of the table.

Peter Schroeck’s side were made to work hard for their points against Scunthorpe. Although Scorpions never led the hosts, they did come from 10 points behind to trail Cheetahs by only two points with four heats to go.

Three successive race advantages in heats 12, 13 and 14 stretched the hosts’ lead to 12 points before Scorpions registered a fourth race advantage of their own in the finale.

Schreock said after the meeting: “We knew Scunthorpe are capable of putting in a big performance and so that proved tonight.

“They’ve gone under the radar this season and I’d expect them to cause an upset or two when the play-offs come around. From our point of view, it was another solid team performance from one to seven.

“We were frustrated by a few results in the middle part of the meeting, but the response after the interval was awesome and exactly what we asked for. Focus shifts to Glasgow on Friday which is a fixture we’re really excited for.

“Again, thank you to the supporters for turning up this evening – we cannot thank you enough for your commitment to the club.”

The Monarch Cheetahs conclude their Cab Direct Championship campaign at Glasgow on Friday. Tapes-up is at 7.30pm.

Monarch Cheetahs 50: Sam Masters 13, Cameron Heeps 3, Lewis Kerr 11, Jordan Jenkins 5+2, Scott Nicholls 8, Henry Atkins 5+2, Ashton Boughen 5+2.

Scunthorpe Scorpions: Ryan Douglas 14, Connor Mountain 2+1, Simon Lambert 2+1, Michael Palm Toft 9, Jake Allen 6, Nathan Ablitt 0, Drew Kemp 7.