REPORT: Cheetahs so close at Workington
MONARCH Oxford Cheetahs were close to snatching a late victory at Workington’s Northside Arena in Cumbria on Saturday afternoon, before being edged out 44-46 in a last-heat decider.
Cheetahs stayed in contention in a thrilling meeting at the newest venue in the Cab Direct Championship, with a best-ever tally at this level for 16-year-old Ashton Boughen, who scored 12+1 from six outings and top-scored for the visitors.
Workington took the lead with a 4-2 in Heat 3 and had extended their advantage to eight points at 22-14 after six races.
Those races included a highly contentious refereeing decision in Heat 4. While Workington’s Troy Batchelor was coming out on top in a battle with Scott Nicholls – one of a number of Cheetahs making their first-ever competitive appearance at the circuit – there was also a battle for third place.
Luke Killeen moved inside Sam McGurk after two laps. McGurk then flew back under Killeen on the third bend of lap 3, but he made clear contact with Killeen and the Cheetah was brought crashing down. McGurk’s exclusion seemed a formality, but referee Gary Allen excluded Killeen as the cause of the stoppage, much to the amazement of the Oxford camp.
Cheetahs’ fightback started in Heat 9, when Boughen rode the inside line intelligently to move from fourth to second and join skipper Nicholls for a 5-1.
Comets hit back with a 5-1 of their own in Heat 10 from the powerful pairing of Tate Zischke and Craig Cook, and Troy Batchelor then thwarted Oxford’s tactical substitute in Heat 11, by beating both Sam Masters and Nicholls.
Cheetahs may have sensed time was running out – especially after another great effort by Boughen just fell short when Workington guest Connor Bailey passed him for first place on the last lap of Heat 12 – but the next two races showed they were far from beaten.
Heat 13 was a thriller. While Sam Masters led the race, Nicholls was involved in a ding-dong battle with Cook and Batchelor for the minor placings and the race eventually ended as a 4-2 to Oxford.
Jordan Jenkins produced a beautiful ride in Heat 14, to combine with Boughen, as the pair blocked out the persistent challenge of Claus Vissing and team-ride to a 5-1, as Cheetahs closed the gap to just two points.
In the decisive Heat 15, Masters showed first ahead of Batchelor and Cook, with Nicholls looking handily placed on the outside. But Cook roared around Masters on the third bend and soon built up a match-winning lead. Nicholls was soon past Batchelor, while Masters fended off Batchelor for third place later in the race. The 3-3 took the final score to 46-44 in Workington’s favour.
In addition to Boughen 12+1, Masters collected 10+2 and Nicholls 10+1, while every Oxford rider contributed to a team effort.
Team manager Peter Schroeck said: “I can’t fault the effort of any of the boys today. We pushed a very good Workington side all the way to the final race around their own track. We’ve put ourselves in a very good position for the aggregate bonus point against when Workington come back at our place next month.
“It was difficult for us today in the few first races because a lot of the lads hadn’t seen the place before, while the Workington boys have got the track totally figured out, but we then came on strong towards the end.
“Of our riders, Ashton was the one who had ridden here competitively before and he loves the track. He grew in stature during today’s meeting which was great to see with a young rider.
“Jordan really needed that race in Heat 14 for his confidence. That was a fabulous ride from him and Ashton to hold out Claus Vissing and take the 5-1 and take it to the final race.
“I thought Luke was very unlucky in Heat 4. Sam McGurk clearly took his front wheel from under him. Everyone could see what happened. I did speak to the referee, because I didn’t agree with Luke’s exclusion. You can only ever put your point to the referee and move on, although that lost point was costly at the end of the meeting.
“It’s a long drive home from Workington. Some highly-fancied teams have had to do that this year after being battered, but we can drive away with our heads held high, because very few teams will get that close here this year.
“I believe the Cheetahs are really coming together as a team. This was our strongest away performance of the season and everything is moving in the right direction.”
Cheetahs are back in action at home at Oxford Stadium next Wednesday (May 29) at 7.30pm, when they entertain Edinburgh Monarchs in further Cab Direct Championship action. Tickets are on sale at https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/
Workington Comets 46: Craig Cook 11+2, Tate Zischke 10+1, Connor Bailey 7, Claus Vissing 5, Troy Batchelor 9, Ace Pijper 2, Sam McGurk 2+1.
Monarch Oxford Cheetahs 44: Sam Masters 10+2, Henry Atkins R/R, Cameron Heeps 6+2, Jordan Jenkins 5+1, Scott Nicholls 10+1, Ashton Boughen 12+1, Luke Killeen 1+1, Jody Scott (No 8) DNR.
PHOTO: Ashton Boughen scored a fine 12+1 tally for Cheetahs at Workington (pic: Steve Edmunds)