Oxford Cheetahs v Poole Pirates

Report

OXFORD will take a narrow two-point lead to Poole on Wednesday for the second leg of their Championship KO Cup semi-final.

The Cheetahs edged the opener at Cowley 46-44 thanks to another vintage display from skipper Scott Nicholls who scored 14 points from five rides and combined with Sam Masters for a match-winning 5-1 in Heat 15.

But the Pirates were satisfied with their situation at the halfway stage of the tie, as they came back strongly from eight points down with four races remaining to take the lead heading into the last race – inspired by former Oxford rider Kyle Newman, who scored 11+2 and was involved in two late 5-1s.

Cheetahs manager Peter Schroeck said: “We got really stuck in tonight and while there is some frustration in the camp that we let our eight-point lead slip we can’t be too hard on ourselves.

“Poole are a quality side, and we never expected them to roll over and let their mid-meeting blip get to them. They fought back hard and we’ve got to do the same in Dorset.”

Poole boss Neil Middleditch said: “We had our backs to the wall there at one stage, but the boys dug in and turned things around nicely.

“We had a team talk at the interval and I said I was not happy being eight down. I could take a six-point loss, but I wouldn’t be happy.

“The boys responded in some tough heats so a two-point loss I’ve got to say I am pretty happy with, but there is still work to do.”

CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP SEMI-FINAL, 1st leg
OXFORD 46: Scott Nicholls 14, Sam Masters 9+2, Lewis Kerr 7+1, Cameron Heeps 7, Jordan Jenkins 6+1, Ryan Kinsley 2, Henry Atkins 1+1
POOLE 44: Kyle Newman 11+2, Ben Cook 9+1, Steve Worrall 8+1, Zach Cook 7+1, Richard Lawson 7, Anders Rowe 1+1, Adam Roynon 1+1

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Photo credit: LES AUBREY