TOP SPOT FOR CHEETAHS

OXFORD stormed to the top of the Cab Direct Championship with a 55-35 win over Birmingham at Cowley.

The Cheetahs were never threatened and once again delivered as an all-round team with Lewis Kerr top-scoring on 12 points, skipper Scott Nicholls adding 10+1 and Cameron Heeps earning a Heat 15 place with 9+1.

The visitors made another poor start, going ten points down after three races, before improving in the second half of the meeting with captain Justin Sedgmen scoring 12 from six rides and Nick Morris winning Heats 13 and 15.

Oxford boss Peter Schroeck said: “That was a big result for us. Conditions were tricky early on but I must applaud the track staff who did an outstanding job to get the surface in top order in the time they did.

“Across the board, everyone chipped in tonight which is pleasing, and we were blown away again by the number of people on the terraces and in the grandstand.

“There’s a terrific vibe at the club right now and it couldn’t come at a better time as we have a big week of fixtures ahead of us.”

New Brummies manager Stewart Dickson said: “It went very much as I expected to be honest. There were a couple of decent performances and a couple that were a wee bit worrying.

“I don’t need to analyse the programme that much, I can see where the problems are.

“I’m going to need to get the calculator out and play around with figures because we do need to strengthen and that’s now my job.”

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Photo credit: LES AUBREY