ADVANTAGE CHEETAHS BY 12

OXFORD have a 12-point lead at the halfway stage of the Cab Direct Championship Grand Final after a powerful finish to defeat Poole 51-39 in front of a bumper crowd at Cowley.

The Cheetahs’ top two of Sam Masters and captain Scott Nicholls combined for 5-1s in both Heats 13 and 15 to extend the margin into double figures and inflict the Pirates’ heaviest defeat of the season.

Masters, with 12+3, scored a paid maximum whilst Nicholls recovered from a last place in his first ride to notch 10+1, and reserve Luke Killeen was a key figure with 12+1 from his five outings.

Zach Cook was the pick of the Pirates with 9+1 including two race wins from the back, and they will look to hit back at Wimborne Road on Wednesday.

Nicholls said: “The other boys set it up for us in the previous races, but we’ve just seen what a big difference that Heats 13 and 15 can make in the Premiership Final, where Belle Vue did the damage against Leicester in those races.

“I enjoy riding with Sam, and we did the business in those races tonight.

“A 12-point lead is good, but we certainly won’t take anything for granted heading into Poole next Wednesday and we know it will be tough down there.

“But we’ll down go down with the same mentality and same attitude and do what we can to bring the title back to Oxford.”

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Photo credit: STEVE EDMUNDS