REPORT: Cheetahs battle to a draw against Pirates, but lose out in Super Heat

SD TIMMO CAR SALES Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies were involved in a pulsating 45-45 draw with Poole Pirates in the BSN Series at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium last night (Wednesday) – but missed out on an extra point in the concluding Super Heat.

The two clubs were the best two teams in the Cab Direct Championship last season and met in two finals at the end of the season – and the signs were there last night that they are very evenly matched again. No more than four points separated the two teams – and the lead changed hands several times.

Cheetahs could point to losing several points – such as when Dan Gilkes fell while leading Heat 5, the otherwise very impressive Luke Killeen made a hash of the first corner of Heat 8, while Cameron Heeps – a fine winner of Heat 4 – was another faller in Heat 7.

Pirates led by two points heading into the interval, but Cheetahs moved ahead in Heat 12. Killeen and Jordan Jenkins surged through in the early stages, with Jenkins subsequently producing a mature ride to keep Anders Rowe behind him and ensure the 5-1. Jenkins had earlier fended off Poole No 1 Richard Lawson in the re-run of Heat 5.

Skipper Sam Masters – taking a fourth successive heat win – and Cameron Heeps took a 4-2 in Heat 13 to extend Oxford’s lead to four points.

Heat 14 was shared after the wide-riding Dan Gilkes took third in a battle with Paul Starke. Gilkes had also taken third place after an overtake of the same opponent in the final bend of Heat 9, in a real do-or-die effort. Gilkes’ 2+2 return did not reflect his efforts last night.

Cheetahs headed into Heat 15 four points ahead. Masters and Jenkins were holding a 4-2 from the start after Masters jetted out of gate three – as he did also done in Heat 10. But referee Seth Perkin stopped the race and warned Poole’s Richard Lawson for moving at the start, when many referees would have let the race continue, since Lawson only penalised himself.

As often happens, the re-run was different. Impressive Pirate Zach Cook made the first corner, while Lawson won a battle with Masters for second place, as Pirates tied things up with a 5-1.

Both teams had already picked up a point for a draw, but the Super Heat ensured which side took both points on offer. Masters led from start-to-finish, but team-mate Heeps was stranded at the back. With the 4-3-2-0 scoring system for this race, Pirates won the heat by 5-4.

There were plenty to be positive from an Oxford perspective, including a season’s best 9+1 from Killeen, and Jonas Knudsen’s first race win for Cheetahs in Heat 8. Debutant Mitch McDiarmid got stuck in and collected 2+1, including a defeat of Matt Marson in Heat 2.

Luke Killeen – who rides for both the Oxford Cheetahs and the Oxford Spires – celebrated his 20th birthday with a 9+1 tally for Cheetahs. He said: “I was really looking forward to it when I found out there was a meeting on my birthday. There’s nothing else I would rather be doing, than riding speedway and riding for Oxford.

“We pushed Poole all the way, held them to a draw, and then just missed out by the skin of our teeth in a Super Heat.

“I scored good points and I’m happy how my night went. I felt fast tonight, especially towards the end of the evening.

“The first few meetings of the season with the Spires were a bit of struggle, but I’m enjoying it now. I’m getting a bit more bike time in general and things are coming back to me and I feel I’m improving with both teams and finding my feet. I’m busy for the rest of April, but it’s good to be like that.”

Cheetahs move onto away meetings in the BSN Series at Poole on Good Friday and Plymouth on Saturday.

The next action at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees the Oxford Spires take on the Leicester Lions in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership on Easter Monday, a meeting with a 1pm afternoon start. It’s the first of a double-header of action that day, since the same two sides also meet at Leicester at 7.30pm.

Tickets for the home meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium are on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies 45: Sam Masters 13, Jonas Knudsen 5, Jordan Jenkins 8+1, Dan Gilkes 2+2, Cameron Heeps 6, Mitch McDiarmid 2+1, Luke Killeen 9+1.

Poole Pirates 45: Richard Lawson 10+2, Tobias Thomsen 5+2, Anders Rowe 6+1, Zach Cook 13+1, Lewis Kerr 5, Paul Starke 5, Matt Marson 1.

Poole win Super Heat by 5-4.

PHOTO: Jordan Jenkins and Luke Killeen come through for a 5-1 in Heat 12 (pic: Steve Edmunds)