REPORT: Advantage Cheetahs, after top night of speedway at Oxford Stadium

MONARCH Oxford Cheetahs will have a 12-point lead to take to Poole for the second leg next Wednesday, after the first Saturday speedway meeting at Oxford Stadium in 56 years resulted in a hard-fought 51-39 victory for Cheetahs over Poole Pirates in the first leg of the Cab Direct Championship Grand Final at Sandy Lane last night.

The previous two home meetings with Pirates in 2024 had resulted in scores of 45-44 and 45-45 and another very close meeting seemed to be on the cards, after the first five races were shared.

But with 19-year-old reserve Luke Killeen in inspirational form and two late 5-1s from skipper Scott Nicholls and paid maximum man Sam Masters, Cheetahs pulled away in the closing stages.

The track was in top nick – despite recent record amounts of rainfall in Oxfordshire – and developed to produce some fantastic racing as the evening developed for a loud and enthusiastic crowd.

With both teams putting everything on the line, there were a couple of early incidents. Ashton Boughen fell while in pursuit in Heat 3, but he was soon to his feet, while Oxford guest Dan Gilkes took a fine victory over the Cook brothers, Zack and Ben, to keep the scores level.

Tom Brennan was the victim of a tight first bend in Heat 4 but was fit for the re-run, where Killeen streaked away for a superb win, while there was a surprise last place for Nicholls after some first bend shoulder banging with Brennan.

The deadlock was broken when Cameron Heeps and Masters team rode for a 5-1 in Heat 6, with Brennan trailing home in fourth.

Nicholls and Scott were the early leaders in Heat 7. But the Cook brothers both overtook Scott, while Zach Cook looked quicker than Nicholls and eventually passed him on the final bend, as Pirates hit back with a 4-2.

Heeps and Killeen were on a 5-1 in Heat 8, when third-placed Vinnie Foord took a pearler on the fourth bend. The young Pirate soon was up, but didn’t take any part in the meeting after aggravating a hand injury. In the re-run, Heeps and Killeen again streaked away, as Cheetahs moved six points ahead.

Poole were far from beaten and closed the gap to four points, before a fabulous opening lap by Killeen on the opening lap of Heat 11. He flew right around the outside, moving past both the Poole pair – including Poole No 1 Richard Lawson – and then Nicholls team-rode to perfection to ensure the 5-1, as Cheetahs went into the interval eight points clear.

Pirates hit back a 5-1 in Heat 12, despite a mighty effort from Scott.

Masters and Nicholls have so often pulled Cheetahs clear in the closing stages of meetings and they did so again, combining for a 5-1 in Heat 13.

Heat 14 was the race of the night. Killeen led, before he and Zach Cook exchanged places several times, with the Pirate finally clinching the verdict on the final lap, but only after another stellar effort from the Oxford teenager, who finished his night with a superb 12+1 tally. Meanwhile, Gilkes fought past Tobias Thomson for a precious extra point to ensure the 3-3.

Nicholls and Masters took a closing 5-1 in Heat 15, with Masters fending off both Lawson and Zach Cook to complete a paid maximum (12+3) that saw deservedly given the bumps following the race.

Cheetahs’ skipper Scott Nicholls said: “It was a proper team effort to get a good result tonight.

“I had a shocking start to the meeting and changed bikes. I wasn’t happy with myself at that point. When it’s a big night like tonight, you want to hit the ground running, but it took me a couple of rides to get it right.

“Luke put in a great performance for us at reserve. It was very close for the majority of the night, but fortunately we took a couple of 5-1s and started to pull away.

“But the time we entered Heat 15, the worst-case scenario was that we would take a four-point margin to Poole for the second leg on Wednesday. But we got the 5-1 and it means we will take a 12-point lead there, which is awesome.

“The other boys set it up for us in the previous races, but we’ve just seen what a big difference that Heats 13 and 15 can make in the Premiership final, where Belle Vue did the damage against Leicester in those races. I enjoy riding with Sam and we did the business in those races tonight.

“A 12-point lead is good, but we certainly won’t take anything for granted heading into Poole next Wednesday and we know it will be tough down there. But we’ll down go down with the same mentality and same attitude and do what we can to bring the title back to Oxford.”

The British Under-19 Championship takes place on Oxford Stadium this afternoon (Sunday) at 3pm. There are five Oxford riders on display – Ashton Boughen, Luke Killeen, Jody Scott, Ashton Vale and Senna Summers. Adult admission is just £14 on Race Day and tickets are on sale at https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Monarch Oxford Cheetahs 51: Sam Masters 12+3, Cameron Heeps 6, Ashton Boughen 1+1, Dan Gilkes 8+1, Scott Nicholls 10+1, Luke Killeen 12+1, Jody Scott 2+1.

Poole Pirates 39: Richard Lawson 8, Sam Hagon 2+1, Ben Cook 7+1, Zach Cook 9+1, Tom Brennan 4+1, Tobias Thomson 4+1, Vinnie Foord 5.

PHOTO: Scott Nicholls and Sam Masters take a 5-1 in Heat 15 over Richard Lawson (pic: Steve Edmunds)