REPORT: Cheetahs stage brilliant comeback at Plymouth
A WONDER ride by 17-year-old Ashton Boughen was the centrepiece, as Monarch Oxford Cheetahs recovered from an early ten-point deficit to win 47-43 in the Cab Direct Championship at Plymouth last night (Saturday). Cheetahs led only once – following a final heat 5-1 from Scott Nicholls and Sam Masters.
Cheetahs – after a 320-mile journey following racing at Scunthorpe on Friday – got off at the slow start at the Plymouth Coliseum on a wet-looking track, as the Gladiators stormed into a 17-7 lead.
Oxford hit a couple of pieces of early misfortune. Luke Killeen crashed out while second in Heat 2, while skipper Nicholls went back 15 metres after a tapes offence in Heat 4.
Masters came into Heat 6 as a tactical substitute and stormed around Dan Thompson on the second bend, as he became Oxford’s first heat-winner and joined Nicholls for a 4-2.
A turning point occurred in Heat 8 when Cameron Heeps and Killeen team rode to perfection to a 5-1 ahead of the previously unbeaten Jacob Hook.
Cheetahs closed in further with a 4-2 in Heat 9 from Nicholls and Jody Scott, with 17-year-old Scott producing a fabulous ride to keep Patrick Baek at bay and keep hold of third place.
Masters ended the unbeaten status of Ben Barker in Heat 11, as Barker was forced into a supporting role and ensure a 3-3 alongside Joe Thompson, ahead of the challenging Heeps.
For the majority of Heat 12, Plymouth held a 5-1 that would have moved them six points clear, with just three races to go. But Boughen tracked the team-riding Thompson twins, Dan and Joe, and closed right in, before storming around both twins coming off the final bend in exciting fashion in a triple photo finish. It was thrilling stuff, especially around the tight confines of the narrow Plymouth circuit, the smallest track in the UK.
Referee Paul Carrington needed to check transponder times, before handing victory to Boughen, who fell on the first bend following the race, due to the speed he took across the finishing line.
Masters and Nicholls levelled the scores with a 4-2 in Heat 13, before Heat 14 was another thriller. Jenkins chased race-leader Joe Thompson and created an opening on the back straight of the third lap to move inside his rival. At the same time, Hook performed a similar move on Killeen, with Killeen then losing control and crashing on the third turn. The race was awarded as a 3-3, with Jenkins as the winner, and it meant the scores were all level going into Heat 15.
Nicholls had experienced a quiet evening by his own high standards, but he produced a fabulous start from the tricky outside gate, as he and Masters led the charge into the first bend. The Oxford pair made no mistakes and team-rode to a match-winning 5-1, to shut out Dan Thompson, while a disappointed Barker gave up at the back.
Sam Masters top scored with 15+1 and said: “We’ve got a bunch of guys who are battlers with a never-give-up attitude. I think that’s because we’ve got so many young guys in the side, alongside Scotty, Cam and me.
“In the final race, we both made the start and then you can dictate the race. Usually, it’s Scott coming from the back and I’m waiting for him. But tonight, he flew ahead and it was me in second place. We got the 5-1 we needed to win the meeting and I’m stoked with that.
“The track was overwatered before the start and it ruined the racing in the early stages and it was no fun racing at that point. We had a shaky start but we came back and won and that’s the main thing.
“It was a fantastic ride by Ashton in Heat 12 and unreal to watch. He had so much speed that he crashed on the first corner following the race, but he was straight up. It was a gusty ride and it was awesome and it was the sort of ride that wins you meetings.
“Everyone performed and scored points and that’s why we got the win.
“We’re now entering the toughest part of the season when the silverware is up for grabs. Everyone has battled all year and is feeling pretty tired, but we’ve got to stay focused. We’ve got the team to do it and we’re enjoying it – it’s fun riding for this team.”
The next action at Oxford Stadium is next Wednesday (September 4) at 7.30pm when Cheetahs face Redcar Bears in the first leg of the Cab Direct Knockout Cup semi-final. Tickets are on sale at https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/
Plymouth Gladiators 43: Nico Covatti R/R, Max Perry 0, Dan Thompson 12+1, Patrick Baek 1, Ben Barker 12+1, Joe Thompson 12, Jacob Hook 6+3.
Monarch Oxford Cheetahs 47: Sam Masters 15+1, Cameron Heeps 5+2, Ashton Boughen 6+1, Jordan Jenkins 8+1, Scott Nicholls 8, Luke Killeen 2+1, Jody Scott 3.
PHOTO: Sam Masters and Scott Nicholls – who took the match-winning 5-1 for Cheetahs in Heat 15 last night (pic: Steve Edmunds)