REPORT: Further dent to Cheetahs’ play-off hopes at Workington, despite spirited performance
SD TIMMO CAR SALES Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies left nothing on the table, but suffered a 41-49 away defeat to Workington Comets in the Cab Direct Championship at the GT Tyres Arena in Cumbria yesterday early evening (Saturday). Cheetahs were right in the mix, before two late 5-1s to Workington settled matters.
Cheetahs’ already slim hopes of reaching the play-offs suffered a further blow with the defeat. Oxford remain in fifth place, two points behind Redcar, but Bears have five matches left compared to just three for Cheetahs.
Traffic chaos on the M6 caused issues for those making the long journey to the Cumbrian outpost, either on the day or on the Friday evening. It was hardly ideal preparation.
Oxford fired into an early 9-3 advantage. Jordan Jenkins made his return, after more than a month on the sidelines with a knee injury. He joined skipper Sam Masters for a 5-1 in Heat 1, followed by a 4-2 for Luke Killeen and Jonas Knudsen in Heat 2.
Cameron Heeps won his opening outing in Heat 4, while Masters and Jenkins took a further 4-2 in Heat 5. Workington hit back and had levelled the scores at 21-21 after seven races, but Cheetahs moved back ahead with a 4-2 in an all-action Heat 8, including a collision between Workington riders Fraser Bowes and Vinnie Foord.
Knudsen took a couple of heat wins in Heats 6 and 8, including heading home Workington No 1 Troy Batchelor in the former race, and repassing Bowes in the latter.
17-year-old Mitch McDiarmid took a couple of rides to work out the wide and fast Northside track. But he led Heat 10 all the way and inflicted a further defeat on Batchelor. Comets levelled with a 4-2 in Heat 11, before a spectacular burst around the outside by McDiarmid around both Comets on the opening of Heat 12 to win the race.
Masters showed first in Heat 13, but both Batchelor and Antti Vuolas nipped inside him coming off the second bend, as Comets moved ahead with a 5-1.
McDiarmid gave his all in Heat 14, but spun around and fell, and Comets clinched victory with a 5-1 in the re-run. McDiarmid moved from fourth to second in Heat 15, as the final race of the evening was shared.
Masters won his opening two outings and top-scored for the visitors with 10+1, while McDiarmid collected eight. All six Cheetahs picked up at least one win or paid win – the visitors provided the race-winner in eight out of 15 races.
Jenkins was feeling sick with a chest infection, but the good news was that he reported his knee felt fine. He scored 4+1.
17-year-old Australian Mitch McDiarmid, on his first-ever visit to Workington scored eight points, and he said: “It took me a couple of rides to find the correct gearing, but I’m happy with my evening. We found some things with the set-ups with the engines that we didn’t know before, and that’s always good.
“It’s a cool track up here and I’m very grateful to be here. There are so many lines around here, and you can change it up and made some nice passes. I found the outside line in one race [Heat 12] and enjoyed that, while Sam Masters was looking out for me in Heat 15 and he helped me came through to second place in that race. He’s a good team-rider.
“We’ve still got quite a few meetings to come and I’ve got a busy spell coming up. I want do as much riding as possible and learn as much as possible. I just want to make the most of each meeting.
“I’ve learnt so much this season, in my first year riding in British Speedway, as well as my first full year riding overseas. It’s been a bit of a roller-coaster at times, but overall I’m very happy and it’s a great starting point for my career.”
Cheetahs are back in action at Poole on Wednesday (August 13), in the first leg of their BSN Series semi-final. The Speedway Control Bureau have yet to announce any action taken against either the referee or the start marshal, following the farcical events with the starting tapes at Wimborne Road in the Cab Direct Championship clash on July 30, where health and safety regulations were breached. Speedway Star magazine revealed that the SCB have met in the last week to discuss the events at Poole. But the silence on the matter is deafening.
The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees the BetGoodwin Oxford Spires take on Sheffield Tigers in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership clash on Thursday (August 14) at 7.30pm. It’s the first of two home meetings next week, since Cheetahs host Workington on Sunday, August 17 – please note the start-time of 6pm.
Tickets are on sale for both meetings on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/
Workington Comets 49: Troy Batchelor 6+2, Fraser Bowes 6, Tate Zischke 4+1, Jye Etheridge 10+1, Antti Vuolas 11+3, Jacob Hook 10+1, Vinnie Foord 2.
SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies 41: Sam Masters 10+1, Jordan Jenkins 4+1, Francis Gusts R/R, Mitch McDiarmid 8, Cameron Heeps 5, Luke Killeen 7+1, Jonas Knudsen 7.
PHOTO by Steve Edmunds