REPORT: Cheetahs look to bounce back after home setback to Glasgow

SD TIMMO CAR SALES Oxford Cheetahs are determined to hit back quickly, following a 41-49 home defeat in the Cab Direct Championship to Glasgow Tigers at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium last night (Wednesday).

Cheetahs are away at Redcar on Friday and Plymouth on Saturday, before they are back at home to Redcar next Wednesday (June 24).

Against Glasgow, Cheetahs got off to a great start with a 5-1 from Luke Killeen – on his return from a broken rib – and skipper Sam Masters in Heat 1. But Tigers quickly levelled the scores in Heat 2.

New Cheetahs’ signing Edward Kennett won his opening race on his home debut in Heat 3, as he joined Anders Rowe for a 4-2, but Tigers moved ahead with a 5-1 in Heat 4. Kennett was excluded from Heat 5 for nudging the tapes, but team-mate Rowe won the re-run, inflicting a defeat on struggling Glasgow skipper Chris Harris.

Cheetahs moved back ahead with a 5-1 from the Killeen and Masters pairing in Heat 6, after Killeen motored around Kyle Howarth on the opening lap followed by some fine team-riding by Masters. But Tigers then took four successive heat advantages.

Masters came into Heat 11 as a tactical substitute and Cheetahs pulled back a 5-1 after Mitch McDiarmid raced around Sam Hagon into second place.

But the writing was on the wall, when impressive Glasgow reserve Freddy Hodder charged past Rowe to win Heat 12 to complete a fine paid maximum. Masters won Heat 13, but Tigers stayed six points ahead.

In Heat 14, Darryl Ritchings and Kennett trapped, but Kennett left a slight gap on the inside on the second bend, and both Kevin Juhl Pedersen and Mario Hausl came through for a 3-3 that clinched victory for Glasgow. Ritchings held on for an impressive heat victory.

Masters top-scored for Cheetahs with 14+2, while Killeen scored a highly encouraging eight points on his return from injury.

Cheetahs’ manager Peter Schroeck said: “There wasn’t any lack of effort from the boys tonight, but it just wasn’t our night.

“Fair play to Glasgow, who won it with their bottom end. Freddy Hodder had a great night for them and that made all the difference to the result.

“Luke (Killeen) did well for us on his return from injury and he combined nicely with Sam (Masters) in a couple of races. I’m glad Darryl (Ritchings) won his final race, which is something he can take forward to the next meeting.

“We’ve got plenty of speedway ahead of us in the next week. If we win one of the away meetings at Redcar and Plymouth, then we’re back to where we started. We’ve only ridden a handful of meetings in the Cab Direct Championship so far and it’s still early in the season. We’ll continue to take it one meeting at a time, starting with Redcar on Friday evening.”

The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium is next Wednesday (June 24) at 7.30pm, when the SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs take on Redcar Bears in further Cab Direct Championship action. Tickets are on sale in due course on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers’ away meeting in the WSRA National League at King’s Lynn has been rescheduled to Tuesday, June 30.

SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs 41: Sam Masters 14+2, Luke Killeen 8, Anders Rowe 6, Edward Kennett 4, Mitch McDiarmid 5+1, Darryl Ritchings 4, Dayle Wood 0.

Glasgow Tigers 49: Chris Harris 4, Sam Hagon 4+1, Leon Flint 10, Kevin Juhl Pedersen 6, Kyle Howarth 9+1, Mario Hausl 6+2, Freddy Hodder 10+2.

PHOTO: SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs pictured last night (pic: Steve Edmunds)