REPORT: Cheetahs looking to bounce back after defeat north of the border

SD TIMMO CAR SALES Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies came away from Scotland with nothing to show for their efforts, after hosts Glasgow Tigers defeated Cheetahs by 55-35 in the Cab Direct Championship at the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium last night (Saturday).

Cheetahs have no time to reflect on the defeat, since they are back in action at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium this evening (Sunday, August 17) at 6pm, where they will take on the Workington Comets in further Cab Direct Championship action.

Glasgow are possibly the favourites to win the league title this season, and put in a classy performance, thrusting into s 36-18 advantage after nine races.

Oxford did not go down without a fight. Cheetahs’ skipper Sam Masters was involved in some terrific battles with opposite number Chris Harris, none better than Heat 10, when the two riders swapped positions several times, before Masters took the verdict. Masters top-scored for Cheetahs with 12 points from six rides.

There was also another good performance from Luke Killeen, despite several recent knocks. He won Heat 2 and looked highly competitive all evening on his way to a 9+1 tally.

17-year-old Mitch McDiarmid was making his first appearance at the Scottish track. He took a couple of rides to adjust, but then flew out to win Heat 14. Meanwhile, Killeen took second place, after a four-lap battle for Freddy Hodder for second place. The 5-1 was Cheetahs’ only heat advantage of the evening.

Cheetahs’ manager Peter Schroeck said: “No excuses – we were beaten by the better team. Glasgow are a very good side, who could end the season as the league champions.

“We put up a good fight and that’s all we can do. I’m proud of the effort from the boys, who kept going, and Mitch and Luke deserved to take a 5-1 in Heat 14. Also a big thank to Sam Hagon for accepting the guest booking and getting stuck in.

“It’s not going how we’d like it to, at the moment. The highlight for me is helping the younger members of the team progress. Of course, that’s important, because we want to come back bigger and stronger next season.

“We’ll move on and take it on the chin. We’ve got more to look forward to, than not to, and in the meantime, we want to turn around our form, starting with taking a victory over Workington – and hopefully an aggregate bonus point as well – at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium.”

The next meeting at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium sees Cheetahs host the Workington Comets this evening (Sunday, August 17) – please note the start-time of 6pm. It’s the first of two home meetings in three days for Cheetahs, since they also entertain fierce rivals Poole Pirates on Wednesday evening (August 20) at 7.30pm.

Tickets are on sale for both meetings on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Glasgow Tigers 55: Chris Harris 13+1, Villads Nagel 9+2, Dan Thompson 10+1, Leon Flint 6+2, Kyle Howarth 12+1, Freddy Hodder 3+1, Max Perry 2.

SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs powered by County Plumbing Supplies 35: Sam Masters 12, Sam Hagon 3+1, Jordan Jenkins 4+1, Mitch McDiarmid 3, Cameron Heeps 2, Luke Killeen 9+1, Jonas Knudsen 2+2.

PHOTO by Les Aubrey