WINNING START FOR CHEETAHS

OXFORD are off the mark in Group B of the Cab Direct Championship play-offs after a hard-fought 50-40 win over Glasgow.

The Tigers had pegged the Cheetahs to a two-point lead with four races remaining at Cowley, but the Cheetahs finished strongly to leave the aggregate point situation also intriguingly poised.

Sam Masters and Scott Nicholls combined for a crucial 5-1 over Vadim Tarasenko and Chris Harris in Heat 13, before Jordan Jenkins and Henry Atkins secured victory on the night by relegating Tom Brennan to the back in Heat 14.

Oxford were on another 5-1 in Heat 15 but Harris (14) split Nicholls (12+1) and Masters (10+1) to leave the final margin at ten points.

Cheetahs manager Peter Schroeck said: “We had to dig deep against a good team tonight and we’re pleased with the end result.

“After Heat 11 we banged our heads together and regrouped after a couple of frustrating results and I couldn’t have asked for a better response. The supporters played a crucial role too – we could hear them in the pits all night and hand on heart it absolutely contributed to our final score.

“It will be a tough return fixture, but we’ve built a lead we are more than capable of defending which is what matters. Before that we have to refocus our attention to two big meetings against Redcar where we hope to do the job required of us.”

Glasgow boss Cami Brown said: “It was disappointing to let it slip towards the end of the meeting. We trailed by just a couple of points after Heat 11, so we’re a bit frustrated by that.

“But it’s very much on a knife-edge really. The aggregate point will be crucial and we are very capable of overturning that deficit at Ashfield later this month. But it’s going to be very hard. 

“I feel we will get stronger as the play-offs unfold. We’ve got to beat Redcar at home to keep the destiny of the group in our own hands before the return meeting with Oxford.”

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Photo credit: LES AUBREY