REPORT: Brilliant 15-point maximum for Boughen, as Cheetahs reach first Knockout Cup final in 27 years

TEENAGER Ashton Boughen led the way in sensational style, as depleted Monarch Oxford Cheetahs put in a heroic performance to comfortably secure their place in the Cab Direct Knockout Cup final, winning 95-85 on aggregate against Redcar Bears, after a 45-45 draw in the second leg of their semi-final at the ECCO Arena in the North East last night (Friday).

Cheetahs were missing both Jordan Jenkins and Cameron Heeps – both previously ever-present this season.

Jenkins took a nasty tumble in Heat 14 during the first leg at Oxford Stadium on Wednesday and sustained a wrist injury. But what escaped the attention of most on the same night was when Heeps crashed after the conclusion of Heat 10, aggravating a hand injury.

Without two of the riders that Oxford team manager Peter Schroeck describes as the “engine room” of his side, Cheetahs could have been in trouble in defending their 50-40 lead from Cowley, especially with a limited choice of guests available. Cheetahs used rider replacement for Heeps, while Plymouth reserve Jacob Hook deputised for Jenkins.

But Boughen scored his first-ever maximum at Cab Direct Championship level, with a brilliant 15-point-tally, utilising the fast outside line at Redcar to great effect.

The 17-year-old started by winning Heat 3 by half a straight and then beat former British Champion Danny King in Heat 7.

His clutch was slipping at the start of Heat 8, but he quickly stormed around the outside into the lead, while he left Redcar No 1 Charles Wright – another former British Champion – trailing in Heat 10. He completed his maximum by passing Jye Etheridge on the opening lap of Heat 12.

While Boughen’s performance will hog the headlines, it was a superb team performance by Cheetahs. Notably, another pair of teenagers, Luke Killeen and Jody Scott outscored their Redcar counterparts at reserve by 9 to 6 and it would have been 10 to 5, but for a post-race exclusion for Scott in Heat 14 due to a rulebook technicality.

Killeen showed Cheetahs meant business when he grabbed third on the line in Heat 1, after Redcar No 1 Charles Wright made a mistake on the closing bends.

Bears led 13-11 on the night after four races, but Schroeck played a blinder in placing skipper Scott Nicholls into Heat 5 for a rider replacement ride and he took a 5-1 alongside Sam Masters, as Cheetahs moved 16-14 ahead.

Three successive 4-2s followed, and by the end of Heat 8, Cheetahs led by 28-20 on the evening and were 18 points up overall.

Cheetahs were effectively home and dry after Masters defeated King in Heat 11 to maintain the 18-point aggregate lead, and any mathematical doubt was removed after Boughen and Scott took a 4-2 in Heat 12.

Redcar had the consolation of grabbing a draw on the night, after scoring 14 points in the final three races. With their objective of reaching the final achieved, Cheetahs relaxed a little and also suffered some misfortune. Masters shed a chain while second in Heat 13 and was also forced to pull up from Heat 15 due to damage caused to his bike by the chain incident.

Killeen and Scott seemed to have won the meeting with a 3-3 in Heat 14, as they combined to shut out Jake Mulford, only for Scott to be excluded post-race, since the way he was included in the race was illegal.

It is the first time that Cheetahs have reached a Knockout Cup Final since 1997, when they lost to Edinburgh Monarchs in the Premier League Knockout Cup final.

The last time that Oxford won the Knockout Cup outright was in 1985, when they defeated Ipswich by 79-76 in a classic final, after Simon Wigg and Troy Butler passed Jeremy Doncaster in the final race at Cowley. Cheetahs also shared the silverware with Cradley Heath in 1986, when the home leg was twice rained off and not completed after the away leg at Dudley Wood had ended in a 39-39 draw.

Maximum man Ashton Boughen said: “I’m really pleased with my maximum. It feels like all the hard work is paying off and things are coming together.

“I really like the Redcar track. You can ride anywhere and build your speed up and I love racing on the outside line, while I’ve figured out my starts and got a lot better at those.

“I had a few problems in one race where the clutch was slipping and I was slower in that race. But I still won it and we changed the whole clutch for my next race and I was a second quicker.

“This is the first track where I raced, just over two years ago in a practice session. I came with my dad and we didn’t even know how to start the bike.

“It was a blow being without Jordan and Cam, but the boys have still done it, and it’s great that we’ve through to the final against Poole. We’ve won at Poole once and hopefully we can do it again. That’s another track I enjoy racing and love going to, and hopefully we can win the Cup.”

The next action at Oxford Stadium is next Wednesday (September 11) at 7.30pm when Monarch Cheetahs face Scunthorpe Scorpions in the first leg of the Cab Direct Championship play-off semi-final.

Tickets are on sale at https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Admission is available at the early bird price of £20 for all adults, which increases to £22 on Race Day. All under-16s go free. The first thousand adult tickets sold get a free drink (Drink options: Pint, small glass of wine, draught or soft drink).

In the meantime, Cheetahs race at Glasgow on Sunday afternoon (5pm) in their final regular Cab Direct Championship clash. Cheetahs are expected to track the same team, as at Redcar, with rider replacement for Heeps, Jacob Hook again replacing Jenkins and Ashton Vale at No 8.

Redcar Bears 45: Charles Wright 9+1, Dan Gilkes 6+1, Jye Etheridge 7, Jason Edwards 7+3, Danny King 10, Danny Phillips 0, Jake Mulford 6+1.

Monarch Oxford Cheetahs 45: Sam Masters 8, Cameron Heeps R/R, Ashton Boughen 15 (full maximum), Jacob Hook 2,, Scott Nicholls 11+1, Luke Killeen 7+1, Jody Scott 2+1, Ashton Vale (No 8) DNR.