PREVIEW: Cheetahs return to action

MONARCH Oxford Cheetahs are involved in their first meeting in four weeks, when they entertain Berwick Bandits in the Cab Direct Championship at Oxford Stadium on Wednesday evening (7.30pm).

Following the somewhat premature call-off at Plymouth, with the weather in South Devon on Saturday evening proving to be fine, Cheetahs have not competed as a team since an emphatic 57-33 victory over fellow play-off contenders Workington at Cowley on June 26.

Despite their recent lack of activity, Cheetahs are still in third place in the Cab Direct Championship table, just three points behind league leaders Poole Pirates. Oxford remain the only club to register a league victory over Pirates this season.

Henry Atkins is still on the sidelines, due to a troublesome broken finger. Adam Roynon is the injury replacement for Atkins, but Roynon is also currently out, after further aggravating his shoulder injury. Jody Scott, who himself recently picked up a wrist injury while riding for the Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by SD Timmo Car Sales, is expected to be fit enough to take the booking at No 7. Scott scored 6+2 against Workington.

An intriguing subplot sees the return of both Lewis Kerr and Drew Kemp to Sandy Lane. Both have been released from the OXS Oxford Spires and both are likely to want to prove a point.

Oxford team manager Peter Schroeck said: “I’m not too concerned about the recent lack of meetings for Cheetahs. All the boys have still been in action, except Cam, and I don’t have any worries about Cam, because he is highly focused this season.

“It’s also nice that the first meeting back for the Cheetahs is a home meeting, because all our boys love riding around Oxford and our home form is strong.

“Berwick have had injury problems and are currently bottom of the table, but we won’t under-estimate them.

“The kids will have broken up from school for the summer holidays by the time of the meeting. A reminder that all under-16s go free at Oxford Speedway, so it’s the perfect place to bring the family for a value-for-money night out.”

Tickets are already on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Admission is available at the early bird price of £20 for all adults, which increases to £22 on Race Day. All under-16s go free. A reminder that Oxford Speedway is online ticket sales only – tickets remain on sale on the website until the start-time of the meeting.

LATE CHANGE ON TUESDAY EVENING: Jody Scott is not quite 100% fit and therefore Connor Coles will line at No 7 for Monarch Cheetahs. It is hoped that Jody will fit for Chargers’ meeting at Middlesbrough on Friday, where Matt Marson and William Cairns have been booked to cover for Jason Garrad (Championship duty) and Ashton Vale (injured) respectively.

Teams:

Monarch Oxford Cheetahs: Sam Masters, Cameron Heeps, Ashton Boughen, Jordan Jenkins, Scott Nicholls (C), Luke Killeen, Connor Coles (G).

Berwick Jewson Bandits: Lewis Kerr, Danyon Hume, Drew Kemp, Leon Flint (G), Jye Etheridge, Freddy Hodder, Joe Thompson (G).

(Photo by Steve Edmunds)