REPORT: Dynamic duo to the fore, as Cheetahs move within sight of play-offs

TWO late 5-1s from skipper Scott Nicholls and Sam Masters secured a 51-39 victory for Monarch Oxford Cheetahs in the Cab Direct Championship over the Plymouth Gladiators at Oxford Stadium last night (Wednesday).

Cheetahs were only four points ahead with three heats remaining. But the two maximum heat advantages from their two leading lights killed off the challenge of plucky Gladiators, as Masters and Nicholls warmed up for the Championship Pairs, which will be staged at Oxford Stadium next Friday (August 16). Nicholls completed a 13+2 paid maximum.

Third-placed Cheetahs moved to within a point of second-placed Scunthorpe, despite having three matches in hand on Scorpions. More significantly, they are six points clear of the two teams directly below them in table, Redcar and Workington, despite Cheetahs again having matches on hand on their rivals. The top four qualify for the end-of-season play-offs, and Cheetahs are well on course to qualify.

Gladiators gave Cheetahs plenty to think about at Cowley for the second time this season, and only league leaders Poole have scored more points at Sandy Lane this season in a league encounter against Cheetahs. Dan Thompson was excellent value and scored 15 points from six rides, though he had no answer to Masters and Nicholls in Heat 15.

It was level after three races, with Ashton Boughen taking third place on the line after a last bend swoop around Patrick Baek in Heat 3.

Cheetahs moved ahead with a 5-1 in Heat 4, after Luke Killeen overhauled Jacob Hook on the second bend, and then Nicholls flew under both Hook and Ben Barker on the opening lap.

A second 5-1 followed in Heat 6, after Cameron Heeps charged around Barker, moved Cheetahs six points clear and that lead became eight points after a 4-2 from Heeps and Killeen in a very competitive Heat 8.

Dan Thompson fended off Jordan Jenkins when taking a tactical substitute ride in Heat 9. Even more impressively, he stormed past both Masters and Heeps in the early stages of Heat 10 and went on to inflict Masters’ only defeat of the evening.

Nicholls rounded Plymouth guest Jason Edwards in the early stages of Heat 11, while Killeen fought past Alfie Bowtell for third place, as Cheetahs moved back eight ahead with a 4-2. But Gladiators hit straight back with a 5-1 from Dan Thompson and twin brother Joe in Heat 12 and Cheetahs’ lead was cut to four.

Nicholls and Masters took a 5-1 from Heat 13, with Nicholls passing Edwards on the fourth turn. Victory was secured on the night in a shared Heat 14, with Jenkins temporarily overhauling Joe Thompson for the lead on the final lap but Thompson pipping him to the race win.

Masters and Nicholls made no mistakes with a further 5-1 in Heat 15, to give Cheetahs a 12-point lead for the aggregate bonus point when the two sides meet again at the Plymouth Coliseum in South Devon on August 31.

Skipper Scott Nicholls said: “I’m delighted to score a maximum, but more importantly it was a good win for the team.

“You’ve got to give credit to Plymouth, because they pushed us. On paper, they’re not the strongest team, but it just goes to show that you can’t take anything for granted and every team can perform.

“But we showed our strength and we took the win and the margin we managed to build up at the end may prove crucial when we go down to their place at the end of the month.”

There’s a double dose of action at Oxford Stadium next week. Firstly, the OXS Oxford Spires host the King’s Lynn Stars next Thursday (August 15) in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership. A day later, next Friday (August 16), Oxford Stadium will host the prestigious Championship Pairs, with Nicholls and Masters chasing a home victory.

The Championship Pairs takes place just a day before the British Grand Prix at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday, August 17, where Oxford Spires rider Maciej Janowski will compete against the best riders in the world.

Tickets are already on sale for both events at Oxford Stadium next week at https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

In the meantime, Cheetahs are next in action at Cab Direct Championship leaders Poole next Wednesday (August 14).

Monarch Oxford Cheetahs 51: Sam Masters 13+1, Cameron Heeps 7+2, Ashton Boughen 2+1, Jordan Jenkins 8, Scott Nicholls 13+2 (paid maximum), Luke Killeen 8+1, Jody Scott 0.

Plymouth Gladiators 39: Jason Edwards 6, Alfie Bowtell 5, Dan Thompson 15, Patrick Baek 1+1, Ben Barker 2, Joe Thompson 8+1, Jacob Hook 2.

PHOTO: Dynamic duo Sam Masters and Scott Nicholls take a concluding 5-1 in Heat 15 (pic: Steve Edmunds)