REPORT: Cheetahs into play-off final, after stern test from Scunthorpe
MONARCH Oxford Cheetahs reached the Cab Direct Championship play-off final, where they will face old rivals Poole Pirates, after a 49-41 victory over plucky Scunthorpe Scorpions in the second leg of the semi-final at Oxford Stadium last night (Wednesday) secured a 95-85 aggregate victory.
The aggregate scores were all level with just three races to go, but two 5-1s from skipper Scott Nicholls and No 1 Sam Masters in Heats 13 and 15, alongside with a fantastic 4-2 from guest Dan Gilkes and Luke Killeen in Heat 14 saw Cheetahs into the final.
The dates have already been confirmed for the final, as next Wednesday (September 25) at Oxford and next Friday (September 27) at Poole. Tickets are already on sale for the first leg at Oxford Stadium on the club website at https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/
Against Scunthorpe last night, Cheetahs went into the meeting with a two-point advantage after a brilliant 46-44 victory at Scunthorpe last Friday, when Cheetahs had battled from ten points down.
Team manager Peter Schroeck had warned the tie was far from over, and he was proved right when sharp-starting Scorpions charged into an early 18-12 lead at Sandy Lane.
Masters battled from third to first in Heat 1, while there was a moment of controversy in Heat 3. Gilkes was excluded for a fall when visitor Jake Alen looked more the guilty party, with Scorpions taking the lead with a 5-1 in the re-run.
The Oxford fightback started in Heat 6, with a 4-2 from Cameron Heeps and Masters in Heat 6, with Heeps flying around Kyle Howarth on the second turn to win the race.
Heeps and Killeen pegged back a further 4-2 in Heat 8, which reduced the deficit to two points on the night and levelled the scores on aggregate.
Scorpions were not finished and took a 4-2 in Heat 9, although Gilkes restricted the damage by fighting back past Nathan Ablitt into second place. A big 5-1 from Masters and Heeps in Heat 10 levelled the scores on the night.
Scunthorpe levelled again on aggregate with a 4-2 in Heat 12. Simon Lambert and Ashton Boughen came down on the first bend – not something that Boughen needed, since he is already carrying a leg injury sustained at Redcar on Sunday. Lambert and Ablitt hit the front in the re-run, but Killeen battled into a priceless second place.
In the first leg at Scunthorpe, Cheetahs did not take the lead on the night until Heat 14. In the second leg, it took until Heat 13, after Nicholls and Masters posted a 5-1 to move Cheetahs 40-38 ahead.
More importantly, Cheetahs were now four points ahead on aggregate. Heat 14 saw Scorpions on a 5-1 form the tapes, but a superb opening lap by Gilkes saw him race right around the outside to power around Allen and Ablitt. Killeen then charged around Ablitt after two laps and Cheetahs had the 4-2 they needed to progress to the final, much to the delight of a very vocal Oxford crowd.
Nicholls finished off the night in style, by overtaking both Allen and Howarth in Heat 15, to join Masters for a concluding 5-1.
Oxford team manager Peter Schroeck, who also celebrated his birthday, said: “We knew Scunthorpe would throw everything at us. They wanted to bite us and it took us a long time to find our feet.
“Reaching the final was never going to be easy, but we’ve got there and I couldn’t be any prouder of our riders – the lads had to dig deep tonight.
“A big thank you to our guest Dan Gilkes, who has fitted right in with the team over the two legs. Going into Heat 14, he knew what we needed him to do and he did it. That was the match-winning ride.
“Scott and Sam did what they do at the end in Heats 13 and 15. But it was very much a team performance with everyone chipping in vital points during the evening. Ashton isn’t quite 100 per cent yet after the incident at Redcar on Sunday, but he still gave it his all.
“The emotion is just sinking in. It’s been such a long season, and we’ve done so many miles travelling around the country, that I don’t fully appreciate yet what Cheetahs have achieved in reaching the play-off final in only our third season back.
“But I know that is phenomenal for the club to have Poole in the play-off final. We’re already set to meet them in the cup final, but obviously the play-off final determines the league champions and it’s massive two meetings ahead next week. It’s what we wanted and we’ve delivered. It’s been a good way to spend my birthday and it will be a sweet drive home tonight.”
Before the play-off final next Wednesday, there is another meeting at Oxford this Sunday (September 22), with the British Under-19 Championship. There are five Oxford riders on display – Ashton Boughen, Luke Killeen, Jody Scott, Ashton Vale and Senna Summers. Adult admission is currently just £12 and tickets are on already on sale at https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/
Monarch Oxford Cheetahs 49: Sam Masters 12+1, Cameron Heeps 8+1, Ashton Boughen 3, Dan Gilkes 5, Scott Nicholls 13+1, Luke Killeen 6+2, Jody Scott 2.
Scunthorpe Scorpions 41: Drew Kemp 6+1, Connor Mountain 6+1, Simon Lambert 7+2, Jake Allen 8, Kyle Howarth 9, Nathan Ablitt 5, Luke Harrison 0.
PHOTO: A big 5-1 from Sam Masters and Scott Nicholls in Heat 13 (pic: Steve Edmunds)