REPORT: Cheetahs take vital away victory
SD TIMMO CAR SALES Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies moved up to third place in the Cab Direct Championship with a hard-fought 49-41 away victory at Scunthorpe last night (Friday).
Cheetahs went into the meeting in North Lincolnshire on a run of four successive defeats – some by very tight margins. But they inflicted the first home defeat over the standard 15 races on Scunthorpe Scorpions this season – a team renowned for its strong home form. Cheetahs also picked up the aggregate bonus point by 98-82, after an identical scoreline at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium at the end of May.
The meeting in North Lincolnshire was a close encounter and came down to the final race, with Cheetahs four points ahead. Skipper Sam Masters trapped off gate 2, while impressive guest Antti Vuolas burst around the outside on the opening lap to join him for a 5-1.
Oxford took the lead with a 4-2 in Heat 1, and stayed in front until Scunthorpe took a 5-1 in Heat 6 to move 19-17 ahead. A thrilling Heat 3 saw Mitch McDiarmid snatch third place from Declan Kennedy at the chequered flag.
The next race (Heat 7) saw Zaine Kennedy kicked out for causing McDiarmid to fall – the rather unstable Kennedy has now picked up four exclusions from the last three meetings against Cheetahs. In the re-run, McDiarmid was pipped to second by Luke Harrison on the line – but Cheetahs still levelled the scores at 21-21.
Luke Killeen took an excellent win in Heat 8, while Francis Gusts won a battle for third against Zaine Kennedy, as Cheetahs moved back ahead with a 4-2.
Scorpions moved level with a 4-2 in Heat 9, but Cheetahs then thrust ahead with 5-1s in Heats 10 and 12, both involving Vuolas.
In between, a fascinating Heat 11 saw Masters drop his only point to Connor Mountain, although he regained second place on the final lap from Harrison, with Jonas Knudsen close to Harrison in a tight finish for third place.
Cheetahs moved within sight of the winning post with a 4-2 from Masters and Gusts in Heat 13, with tactical substitute Mountain at the back. Harrison and Mountain pulled back 5-1 in Heat 14 – despite the efforts of McDiarmid – to take the meeting to the final race.
Masters top-scored for Cheetahs with 14 points, while Vuolas also only dropped a point on 11+3. Vuolas was replacing the injured Jordan Jenkins, who himself has scored 13 and 9+1 on his last two trips to Scunthorpe with Cheetahs.
Gusts scored 11 points, winning both Heats 2 and 12, and looked highly competitive. McDiarmid again showed he can mix it in the main body of the side and contributed 6+1.
Cheetahs achieved the victory, despite it being clear that Cameron Heeps – after his frightening crash with Zaine Kennedy at Oxford a few weeks ago – is still riding himself back to full fitness. The Australian now has a break of 12 days, before Cheetahs are next back in action, at home to Workington at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium on Wednesday, July 2.
Skipper Sam Masters said: “We needed the win tonight. We’d had a couple of losses at home and those put us on the backfoot a little bit, but today we’ve responded to that.
“Scunthorpe is not an easy place to visit. To come away with an eight-point victory is really impressive – I’m so pleased with the efforts from the boys. It was a last-heat decider and those are always nerve-wracking, but we got it done.
“In Heat 15, I was a little bit of edge, because I was off gate 2 and that had been my worst gate all night. But I made the start and won the race and it was an awesome way to finish. I’ve never made any secret that Scunthorpe is not my favourite track, but I seem to be doing better each time I come here, so that’s good!
“It’s great when the younger lads have a strong meeting, like Francis and Mitch did tonight. It’s awesome what Mitch has been doing in his first season in British Speedway. He’s been a major reason in us winning the meetings that we have and getting through in the BSN Series and (MAXiCab) Knockout Cup.
“Antti Vuolas was a great guest tonight. When you’ve got the guest out in Heat 15 and he’s also performing in that race, you know you’ve picked the right one!
“We’ve still got a big year ahead of us and we’re looking forward to the rest of the season.”
In the following meeting, the Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers powered by AW Mobbs – missing star men Jody Scott and Darryl Ritchings – lost by 31-59 to the Steelers, the joint Scunthorpe and Sheffield WSRA National League side. Senna Summers (11+1) and Jacob Clouting (9+1) both had impressive meetings.
The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees the BetGoodwin Oxford Spires take on the Birmingham Brummies in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership clash next Thursday (June 26) at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/
Scunthorpe Scorpions 41: Steve Worrall 6, Zaine Kennedy 4+1, Declan Kennedy 3+1, Connor Mountain 13+1, Jake Allen R/R, Luke Harrison 9, Simon Lambert 6+1.
SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies 49: Sam Masters 14, Jonas Knudsen 1, Antti Vuolas 11+3, Mitch McDiarmid 6+1, Cameron Heeps 2, Francis Gusts 11, Luke Killeen 4+1.
PHOTO: Sam Masters and Francis Gusts on a 4-2 in Heat 13 (pic: Ian Rispin)