Oxford 44, Coventry 46

By John Gaisford

DESPITE another brilliant effort from Leigh Adams, Cheetahs crashed to their third home defeat of the season in last night's Elite League speedway clash against Coventry Bees.

Not even a ten-minute delay when the tapes malfunctioned in the final dramatic heat could stop the man from Mildura, who, after out-trapping the Bees pair of Billy Hamill and Andreas Jonsson at the first attempt when Lukas Dryml was trapped, he did it again in the re-run

But with the Bees pair just team-riding round, it was enough for them to steal the points.

Man for man, the Bees had the upper hand for as well as Jonsson and Hamill, they had Lee Richardson and Billy Janniro all in good form.

The meeting set off in explosive fashion as Coventry's 'kid on the block' American Janniro went past Adams in cavalier style down the back straight. He clearly had to be taught a lesson as Adams hit back to take the flag.

Bees recovered from a slow start to lead 35-31 at the break.

Cheetahswere given a great boost in heat 12 as Lukas Dryml rode like a demon to hold off the in-form Richardson. And with Mark Lemon tucking into third, the gap was reduced to two as Steve Johnston joined Adams in the vital heat 13.

An explosive start from Adams left Hamill and the previously unbeaten Jonsson treading water, with Johnston out with the washing.

With two heats, Bees still held firm by two points.

Ales Dryml did his best to keep the pot boiling by winning the penultimate heat easily enough. But now it was all to do for Cheetahs in the final heat.

On paper they needed two Adams's, and it was no surprise the Bees pair just coasted in behind the Oxford star to clinch victory. Oxford: Adams 16, L Dryml 10, A Dryml 8+1, M Lemon 4, A Appleton 3+1, Johnston 3+1. 44 pts.

Coventry: Jonsson 11+2, Richardson 11, Janniro 8+2, Hamill 8+1, Fisher 7, Carter 1. 46 pts.

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: Adams, Janniro, Hamill, Johnston. 61.0 secs.

Heat 2: Lemon, Appleton, Carter, Fisher. 61.5

Heat 3: Richardson, A Dryml, Janniro, L Dryml. 60.3.

Heat 4: Jonsson, Adams, Fisher, Lemon (e/f). 60.3.

Heat 5: L Dryml, Fisher, A Dryml, Hamill. 60.5.

Heat 6: Jonsson, L Dryml, Johnston, Carter. 60.7.

Heat 7: Adams, Janniro, Appleton, Richardson (e/f). 60.2.

Heat 8: Richardson, Johnston, Fisher, Lemon. 60.6.

Heat 9: Jonsson, L Dryml, A Dryml, Carter. 60.8.

Heat 10: Richardson, Janniro, A Dryml, Johnston. 60.8.

Heat 11: Hamill, Adams, Fisher, Appleton. 60.8.

Heat 12: L Dryml, Richardson, Lemon, Fisher. 60.9.

Heat 13: Adams, Hamill, Jonsson, Johnston. 60.8.

Heat 14: A Dryml, Fisher, Janniro, Lemon. 61.1.

Heat 15: Adams, Hamill, Jonsson, L Dryml. 60.8.