PREVIEW: Cheetahs look to make amends at Poole

MONARCH Oxford Cheetahs are seeking to make amends for a Good Friday horror show at Poole’s Wimborne Road circuit when they return to the South Coast venue in Cab Direct Championship action on Wednesday evening (7.30pm).

Cheetahs lost 29-61 in their season-opener in the BSN Series at Poole on March 29, with only skipper Scott Nicholls and Luke Killeen standing up to the barrage.

Poole are currently top of the table and assured of a play-off place. Oxford are in third place and also in a healthy position, although they require a few more points from their final five Cab Direct Championship matches to be mathematically certain of a place in the play-offs.

Cheetahs have booked Wimborne Road track specialist Paul Starke as a guest for the injured Adam Roynon.

Oxford team manager Peter Schroeck said: “We took a lot of fans down to Poole on Good Friday and we didn’t give them much to cheer about. Cheetahs hadn’t got going at that stage, whereas since then we’ve proven that we’ve again got a good side this season.

“Of course, we’d love to come out of the meeting at Poole with some league points, but since the meeting at Oxford went down to a Super Heat, we’d have to win down there to do that.

“To me, what’s important is to remind everyone – ourselves, the Poole riders, both sets of supporters – that we can push Poole hard and give them a run for their money and also to give our fans something to shout about. It will make Pirates think twice should we meet them again at the conclusion of the season, either in the Cab Direct Knockout Cup final or in the play-off final.”

The visit to Wimborne Road commences a busy week for Oxford Speedway. There’s also a double dose of action at Oxford Stadium this week. Firstly, the OXS Oxford Spires host the King’s Lynn Stars on Thursday (August 15) in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership. A day later, on Friday (August 16), Oxford Stadium will host the prestigious Championship Pairs, with Scott Nicholls and Sam Masters chasing a home victory.

Tickets are already on sale for both events at Oxford Stadium this week at https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Teams:

Poole Wessex Marine Pirates: Richard Lawson, Sam Hagon, Ben Cook (C), Zach Cook, Tom Brennan, Tobias Thomsen, Jacob Hook (G).

Monarch Oxford Cheetahs: Sam Masters, Cameron Heeps, Ashton Boughen, Jordan Jenkins, Scott Nicholls (C), Luke Killeen, Paul Starke (G).

(PHOTO by Steve Edmunds)