REPORT: Chargers’ boss philosophical after home defeat

DEFENDING champions Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by SD Timmo Car Sales suffered a major blow in their attempts to defend their WSRA National League crown, when they lost 36-54 at home to the Scunthorpe Stags at Oxford Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Stags inflicted the first home defeat on Chargers in almost two years, as Chargers suffered a fraught afternoon with both Jody Scott (wrist injury) and Ashton Vale (knee and ankle) crashing out of the meeting in the opening five races.

With Jason Garrad continuing in the meeting despite a swollen wrist and Alex Spooner riding in his first meeting in 13 months following a collarbone injury, Chargers were very short on fully fit riders by the end of the afternoon.

Meanwhile, Stags brought in unattached 15-year-old William Cairns in at No 7 for the retired Sheldon Davies. Cairns recently finished third in the SGP3 (the World Under-16 Championship) in Poland and showed all that pedigree in a stunning National League debut, as he scored 19 points from seven outings, including five successive heat victories in his second to sixth rides. Cairns only dropped points to Oxford skipper Luke Killeen in Heats 1 and 15.

Stags took the lead with a 4-2 in Heat 2, before Garrad and Vale levelled the scores with a 4-2 in Heat 3.

Chargers’ problems began in Heat 4. Scott was in second place behind Cairns, when he suffered an awkward-looking fall on the final lap and he was subsequently ruled out with a wrist injury, with Chargers using injury rider replacement in his place. His fall allowed Stags to take a 5-1.

The opening bends of Heat 5 saw a further blow for Chargers, as Garrad fell when Vale was right behind him. Both Oxford riders came down in a pile of bikes and riders. Vale was left with a knee injury and also took damage to his ankle. Garrad has recently suffered a wrist injury which he aggravated in the crash.

With Garrad excluded and Vale unable to take his place, Jacob Clouting gave Chargers hope with a brilliant charge from third to first in the re-run, leaving Championship rider Nathan Ablitt in his wake.

Spooner was, understandably, short of race fitness, but still led Championship rider Luke Harrison for two laps in Heat 6.

Chargers were very short on resources and were not helped by a strange incident in Heat 7, when Stags’ Ace Pijper clearly lost on the second bend in Heat 7, resulting in a fall for Clouting. The referee seemed oblivious to the incident and allowed the race to continue, as Stags took a 4-2.

Chargers continued to fight and Senna Summers – attempting to join Garrad for a 5-1 – kept Harrison at bay for over two laps in Heat 9, only to make a mistake and drift back to fourth.

Meanwhile, the scores remained tight until Cairns and Mickie Simpson took a 5-1 in Heat 8. There was no way for stricken Chargers to hit back, and win was in the bag for Stags with three heats to go, after Stene Pijper and Simpson both passed an ailing Garrad in Heat 12, who was struggling with his wrist by his point.

Killeen dropped his only point in Heat 13, when he was all over Ablitt but could not find a route through. Clouting had taken an impressive third in that race, passing Harrison, and was in second place in Heat 14, when he lifted and smashed into the fence. He was unhurt, but his bike was damaged.

Oxford team manager Peter Schroeck said: “You couldn’t have written the script for that one. It was just one of those afternoons for us. We’ve got a few wounded soldiers, but hopefully there’s nothing broken. Ashton is going off to hospital, while Jody is going to see what happens to his wrist and the same with Jason.

“The lads gave 100 per cent and got stuck in and I’m really proud of their efforts. Jacob and Senna only ride in the WSRA National League and both got seven rides today, but not in the circumstances we’d like. Jacob showed what he could in a couple of his rides, beating Nathan Ablitt and Luke Harrison, who also ride much more regularly in the Cab Direct Championship. Senna also gave it his all and was leading Luke Harrison for much of one race.

“I want to win; the boys want to win. But, more importantly, this league is about rider development. None of the boys were badly hurt. We’ll see if any have to miss any meetings, but at the end of the day, they can brush themselves down and go again.

“Sometimes it’s necessary to step back and look at the bigger picture, while it was great to see William Cairns do so well. I’m known him since he was a little kid. He’s a great talent for British Speedway. It’s been a great weekend for British Speedway and we at Oxford add our congratulations to Robert Lambert and Dan Bewley on winning the Speedway Of Nations for Great Britain and becoming World Champions.”

The next meeting at Sandy Lane is on Thursday (July 18), when the OXS Oxford Spires entertain the world-famous Belle Vue Aces from Manchester, including Bewley, one of Great Britain’s heroes in the Speedway Of Nations in Manchester on Saturday evening.

It’s one not to miss, and tickets are already on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by SD Timmo Car Sales 36: Luke Killeen 14, Alex Spooner 1, Jason Garrad 8, Ashton Vale 1, Jody Scott 0, Jacob Clouting 7+1, Senna Summers 5.

Scunthorpe Stags 54: Nathan Ablitt 7+1, Kean Dicken R/R, Mickie Simpson 8+3, Ace Pijper 7+1, Luke Harrison 6+1, Stene Pijper 7+3, William Cairns 19.

PHOTO: Luke Killeen and Alex Spooner led Luke Harrison and Stene Pijper in Heat 6 (pic: Steve Edmunds)