PREVIEW: Cheetahs look for upset at Poole
SD TIMMO CAR SALES Oxford Cheetahs travel to the South Coast for the second and concluding leg of their MAXiCab Knockout Cup quarter-final against the Poole Pirates on Wednesday (May 20) at 7.30pm.
Pirates will be favourites to progress to the semi-finals, having won by 49-39 in the first leg at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium last week.
The meeting – which partially took place in a hailstorm – was eventful with Cheetahs’ pair Luke Killeen and Darryl Ritchings picking up knocks in a Heat 8 incident, while Poole’s Cooper Rushen hurt his wrist in Heat 14.
Killeen is currently ruled out for nine days by the concussion protocols, while both Ritchings and Rushen are both prevented from riding at Poole due to a 7-day rule regarding injuries which are certified after the night when they occurred. In addition, Cheetahs still have Erik Riss ruled out by illness.
Cheetahs again bring in Nick Morris to guest for Riss, while Oxford Charger Senna Summers stands in for Ritchings. Cheetahs will use rider replacement for Killeen, with everyone except skipper Sam Masters and Anders Rowe able to take a ride. For Pirates, Fraser Bowes will return to action, while Charlie Southwick guests for Rushen.
Oxford are only away team since 2022 to win at Poole – something they’ve done twice in 2024 and 2025. However, Cheetahs have lost on their last three visits, including a 37-52 defeat in the BSN Series three weeks ago.
Cheetahs’ manager Peter Schroeck said: “Poole will start as hot favourites to progress for the semi-finals, but we’re not ready to throw in the towel yet and we’ll travel down there with an open mind.
“The first thing we want to do is win on the night and we’ll aim to do that. Beyond that, if there’s any chance on aggregate with a few races to go, we’ll do our best to take that opportunity.”
The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium is on Wednesday, May 27 at 7.30pm, when the SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs take on the Edinburgh Monarchs in their opening home meeting in the Cab Direct Championship. Tickets are on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/
Teams:
Poole Wessex Marine Pirates: Richard Lawson, Fraser Bowes, Lewis Kerr, Kyle Newman, Zach Cook (C), William Cairns, Charlie Southwick (G). Team manager: Neil Middleditch.
SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs: Sam Masters (C), Luke Killeen R/R, Mitch McDiarmid, Nick Morris (G), Anders Rowe, Dayle Wood, Senna Summers (G). Team manager: Peter Schroeck.
PHOTO by Steve Edmunds