FIRST WIN FOR CHEETAHS

OXFORD are off the mark in the Cab Direct Championship with a hard-fought 50-40 win over Edinburgh at Cowley.

The Monarchs led narrowly in the early stages and were always in control for the aggregate point, but the Cheetahs did enough for a home victory.

The pressure was applied by a last-bend pass by Edinburgh guest Drew Kemp to join Jonatan Grahn for a 5-1 in Heat 11 reducing Oxford’s advantage to two points, but the home side produced strong results in Heats 13 and 14 including a 5-1 in the latter from guest Nick Morris and Dayle Wood.

Mitch McDiarmid led the Cheetahs’ scoring with 11+2 from five rides, whilst Morris (10+1) and Sam Masters (10) were also in double figures. Justin Sedgmen (10+1) and Kye Thomson (10) led the way for the Monarchs, whose point leaves them second in the early league table.

McDiarmid said: “I’m super happy – I believe that’s my best score of the season. The track was really nice – the dirt-line was far out, but that’s how I like it around here.

“I’m also happy that as a team we posted a good score and took the win and I hope we keep that up, for sure.”

Monarchs boss John Campbell said: “I think we did really well, we had a chance up to the end but Heat 14 was the killer. At least we got the aggregate point so I am very happy with that.”

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Photo credit: STEVE EDMUNDS