REPORT: Cheetahs comfortably qualify for second semi-final, after good display at Scunthorpe

SD TIMMO CAR SALES Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies never looked troubled, as they booked their place in the semi-finals of the MAXiCab Knockout Cup with a 97-83 aggregate victory over the Scunthorpe Scorpions, following the second leg of their quarter-final tie in North Lincolnshire last night (Friday). Scorpions eventually the second leg by 48-42 as a consolation to being eliminated from the competition.

Cheetahs headed into the meeting with a 55-35 advantage from the first leg at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium on April 9.

Cheetahs qualified for their second semi-final of the season, since they have already reached the final stages of the BSN Series.

Scunthorpe took an early four-point lead. But Cheetahs moved into a 20-16 lead themselves after a 5-1 from Jordan Jenkins and Mitch McDiarmid, as it became clear that Cheetahs were highly likely to win on aggregate.

Skipper Sam Masters all but booked Oxford’s place in the next round by overtaking Jake Allen to win Heat 11, which kept Cheetahs 18 points ahead with only four races remaining. Any mathematical doubt was removed when the impressive McDiarmid won Heat 12, defeating Scunthorpe’s own trump card reserve, Luke Harrison, into the bargain.

Cheetahs levelled the scores on the night at 39-39 with a 4-2 from Masters and Jenkins in Heat 13, in which Jenkins was just pipped on the final bend by Scunthorpe No 1 Steve Worrall on the final bend, as he dropped his first points of the evening.

Scunthorpe finished with two heat advantages to win on the night. Birthday boy Masters top-scored with Cheetahs with a dozen points, while Jenkins and McDiarmid both clocked 9+1 and took two 5-1s as a pair. McDiarmid only dropped points in his first-ever ride at the track in Heat 2 – he was unbeaten by a Scunthorpe rider after that.

While Cheetahs were always in command, it was an eventful and thrilling night of speedway.

Jenkins showed he meant business by passing Scunthorpe skipper Simon Lambert on the final bend to win Heat 4, and Masters also won the following race (Heat 5) from behind – passing Connor Mountain.

McDiarmid produced a wonderful ride in Heat 6 to fend off Worrall and join Jenkins for a 5-1.

Luke Killeen took a hard-fought second place in Heat 8, just holding off Lambert in a photo-finish. The Scunthorpe skipper tried to sway referee Simon Humphrey-Kennett with a victory lap, but transponder times showed Killeen ahead. The Scunthorpe fans were not happy, although it was clear to those starting directly level with the finish line that Killeen had taken the verdict.

Scunthorpe also protested over an exclusion for Zaine Kennedy from Heat 9, after he ran into the back of McDiarmid, although replays showed Kennedy clearly at fault. Both riders crashed down, and while McDiarmid was quickly up, it was a while before a battered and bruised Kennedy got to his feet.

McDiarmid had already shown his bravery by squeezing around both Kennedy and then Mountain during the initial staging of the race, and won he quickly rounded Mountain in the re-run to join Jenkins for a 5-1 that placed Cheetahs back ahead at 28-26.

Francis Gusts – making his debut for Cheetahs after a previous spell with the BetGoodwin Oxford Spires – won his outing opening in Heat 3 and contributed six points. Like McDiarmid, the Latvian was making his first-ever appearance at the track.

Jonas Knudsen was in the thick of the action and deserved to score more than 2+1. Races can develop very quickly at Scunthorpe’s Eddie Wright Raceway. In Heat 11, Knudsen took over second place – behind Masters – on the third lap, only to finish in last place.

Cameron Heeps made his return from injury. He scored a couple of points, while he pulled up while third in Heat 12 due to a trapped nerve in his still-recovering shoulder. He is due to have further physio on his shoulder and is planning to ride next Wednesday, when Cheetahs host Scunthorpe at the Bet Goodwin Oxford Stadium for a second time this season – this time in the opening Cab Direct Championship meeting for Cheetahs.

17-year-old Australian Mitch McDiarmid, who scored 9+1 on his first-ever visit to Scunthorpe, said: “I didn’t go out on the parade tonight, but by the time of my second ride, I’d got the feel of the track. I got the right set-up and everything was working for me. We tried a new engine today and I’m really happy with the result.

“I had Chris, Erik Riss’ mechanic, with me tonight and he was on the ball and worked hard all night and I thank him so much.

“I had a couple of good rides with Jordan. I enjoy riding with him. It was fun getting out there out in the dirt and finding the traction that we needed. I’m really happy with tonight.

“It’s awesome that the team are doing well. Everyone gets on really well and we’re all riding well. Hopefully we can keep it up across the season.”

The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium see the Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by AW Mobbs entertain top-of-the-table Edinburgh Monarchs Academy in the WSRA National League on Sunday (May 25) at 3pm. SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies then host the Scunthorpe Scorpions on Wednesday (May 28) at 7.30pm in a Cab Direct Championship clash.

Tickets are already on sale for both meetings on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Scunthorpe Scorpions 48: Steve Worrall 12, Declan Kennedy 2+1, Zaine Kennedy 0, Connor Mountain 6, Jake Allen 6+1, Luke Harrison 16+3, Simon Lambert 6+2.

SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies 42: Sam Masters 12, Jonas Knudsen 2+1, Cameron Heeps 2, Francis Gusts 6, Jordan Jenkins 9+1, Mitch McDiarmid 9+1, Luke Killeen 2.

PHOTO: Mitch McDiarmid books Oxford’s place in the semi-finals by winning Heat 12 (pic: Ian Rispin)