Plymouth Gladiators v Oxford Cheetahs

Report

OXFORD made it five wins out of five at the start of the Cab Direct Championship campaign with a 47-42 win at Plymouth on Tuesday.

Skipper Scott Nicholls won a last heat decider with Sam Masters in third place as the Cheetahs secured their third victory on the road this season.

Nicholls won three races and also had two disqualifications, whilst Masters (11+1) and Lewis Kerr (11) were in double figures along with former Gladiators reserve Henry Atkins, who played a massive part on his old home track with 11+1 from six rides. Dan Gilkes scored 9+2 for the hosts.

Cheetahs manager Peter Schroeck said: “Tonight was a huge result for us. That’s three away victories on the spin and this team is getting stronger with every meeting.

“We missed Jordan (Jenkins) in the main body of the team and Scott picked up a couple of exclusions. If we knew prior to the meeting that we’d have those exclusions and Jordan’s (Jenkins) rides would return two points, you’d make us the clear underdogs.

“But Henry and Ryan (Kinsley) at reserve played key roles and we’re over the moon with this win.”

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP
PLYMOUTH 42: Dan Gilkes 9+2, Kyle Howarth 9, Richie Worrall 7+1, Ben Barker 5+1, Ben Trigger 5, Ben Morley 4+2, Jake Turner 3
OXFORD 47: Sam Masters 11+1, Henry Atkins 11+1, Lewis Kerr 11, Scott Nicholls 9, Ryan Kinsley 4+1, Cameron Heeps 1, Jordan Jenkins r/r

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Photo credit: DAN WESTLAKE