CHEETAHS SECURE BIG AWAY WIN

OXFORD romped to an emphatic 54-36 away win at Birmingham to go second in the Cab Direct Championship and increase the pressure on the Brummies.

The Cheetahs raced to three 5-1s in the first seven races at Perry Barr with an early tactical substitute ride for home skipper Justin Sedgmen proving unsuccessful.

Scott Nicholls (14) and Sam Masters (12+2) led the way for the visitors and dropped their only points to Nick Morris (10+1) in the final race of the meeting – whilst Jordan Jenkins and Henry Atkins were both paid for double figures for Oxford too.

Cheetahs boss Peter Schroeck said: “It all clicked tonight and as the meeting developed, I felt we just got stronger. Performances like this – and keeping fit until October – can help to define our season. I have every faith in this team and right now the boys are riding the crest of the wave.

“The Championship is our big motivator now. We’re two from two but the next fortnight is very important, and we can’t let a couple of good results go to our heads.

“But the positive early signs are there, and the boys should be proud of their efforts tonight – they thoroughly deserve it.”

Birmingham boss Laurence Rogers said: “It was another disappointing performance. We’re trying to prepare a track that suits the majority of the team, but week-on-week it’s the away team who are settling into it very quickly.

“Things have to change very quickly; we’ve been working on things behind the scenes for a few days now and hopefully we can get some things over the line in the next day or two and have something in place by the time we go to Oxford next week.”

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Photo credit: PHIL McGLYNN