REPORT: Spires edged out in Easter Monday encounter
BETGOODWIN Oxford Spires were left still searching for their first victory of the season, after a 41-49 defeat in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership to the Leicester Lions at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium yesterday afternoon (Easter Monday).
The first part of the meeting was held in drizzle and light rain, but both sides put in plenty of effort in slightly treacherous conditions – with fortune favouring the brave.
Spires fell behind after conceding a 5-1 in Heat 1 and Lions held a slim lead through the first half of the meeting.
Oxford pulled back level after a tremendous ride by Rising Star Luke Killeen in Heat 8, to join Erik Riss for a 5-1. Leicester debutant Dan Gilkes tried to push under race-leader Killeen on the fourth bend, and Gilkes accidentally nudged into him. Gilkes fell, while Killeen remained on board and the race continued. Killeen then resisted increasing pressure from Lions’ American star Luke Becker in the closing stages to follow Riss home.
Killeen had earlier taken his first race win at Premiership level in Heat 2, passing Drew Kemp on the second lap and Dan Gilkes on the third circuit.
With Spires’ skipper Maciej Janowski riding in a World Championship qualifier in Poland, Charles Wright stood in as captain and won two races during the afternoon, as Spires fought to stay in contention.
But Leicester re-took the lead with a 5-1 from Grand Prix rider Max Fricke and Bekker in Heat 11, despite a real effort from Spires’ guest Tom Brennan.
Lions moved six points ahead with a 4-2 in Heat 13, although Brennan did inflict the only defeat of the afternoon on Sam Masters. Erik Riss – the winner of his two previous outings – took a tactical substitute ride in Heat 14, but Lions secured victory with a 4-2.
Wright showed the home side had still not given up, by outfighting Fricke for third place in the concluding Heat 15.
Wright (10+1), Riss (10) and Brennan (also 10) all scored double-figures for Spires, the battling Killeen scored 5+1, and Peter Kildemand – returning after missing nearly a month with nerve damage in his back – won Heat 3 and collected 4+1.
No 1 Rohan Tungate had a further disappointing day for Spires and collected just 2+1.
The return clash at Leicester in the evening, was postponed due to a waterlogged track, after heavy rain in the East Midlands. The meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium was the only one of four scheduled ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Easter Monday fixtures to go ahead and a testament to the hard-working Oxford track staff.
Team manager Peter Schroeck said: “It’s a tough gig at the moment for the Spires. You could argue that the weather took away our home track advantage, but at this level, I think that comes into it less, so I’m not going to use that as an excuse.
“To me, it’s important we are competitive and that our supporters see a close meeting and today they did. It wasn’t the nicest afternoon and thank you very much to all the fans who turned up.
“Luke had a good meeting, with a couple of really impressive rides. We don’t put pressure on him at this level, but it’s great when he puts together the points.
“I really can’t complain about most of the team – Erik did a great job, so did Charles and so did Tom Brennan as our guest. For Peter, it was his first meeting back from injury for Spires and I think he’ll be good for two or three points more per meeting going forwards.
“It was a tough day for Francis, but I don’t think he’d ridden in conditions like this before, so it was a learning experience. The boys at reserve are not employed to win us matches – they are there to learn and pick the points when they can.
“I can’t sugar coat it any more – we need more points from the No 1 position. Rohan needs to do some serious soul-searching and find something that works, whatever that is. I’ve got his back, but it’s mostly up to him to sort it out.
“We just need to find that little bit extra – in terms of the Spires, we are being a tested at the moment.”
The next action at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees the Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by AW Mobbs spring into action for the first time this season on Sunday afternoon (April 27) at 3pm. Tickets are on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/
In the meantime, Spires are away to Sheffield on Thursday evening.
BetGoodwin Oxford Spires 41: Rohan Tungate 2+1, Erik Riss 10, Charles Wright 10+1, Peter Kildemand 4+1, Tom Brennan 10, Francis Gusts 0, Luke Killeen 5+1.
Leicester Lions 49: Max Fricke 9+2, Luke Becker 8+1, Ryan Douglas 5+1, Kyle Howarth 8+1, Sam Masters 13, Drew Kemp 2+2, Dan Gilkes 4.
PHOTO: Luke Killeen and Erik Riss ahead of Luke Becker in Heat 8 (pic: Les Aubrey)