Oxford 47, Eastbourne 43

JT/Fox Oxford Cheetahs gained some inspiration ahead of a difficult run-in for the Elite League title with victory over the Eagles in a Craven Shield clash at the Stadium last night.

For a meeting with very little at stake, the racing was competitive Cheetahs' star man was again Leigh Adams who romped to superb paid 15-point maximum, taking the final heat in style to seal victory.

Eastbourne's Martin Dugard signed off in style following a pre-meeting presentation by romping away with the opening heat, just to remind those of us who have been privileged to see him in action here over the years.

The Sussex racer retires after tomorrow night's meeting at Eastbourne to concentrate on a business career.

After Steve Johnston was excluded for taking Roman Povazhny into the fence in heat three, the home fans came alive as Ales Dryml and Adams creamed off a superb 5-1, with Adams coming from third to second to reel in Dean Barker.

Cheetahs led 26-22 ahead after eight heats with some exciting action as Adams took Norris in a thriller, while Brian Andersen and Svab were tit for tat before Svab won the day.

A superb second-bend burst from Wiltshire saw him whip past Barker in heat nine, which was followed by a surprise 5-1 from Andersen and Dryml.

However, just before the break, Svab and Norris teamed up to bring the Eagles back to within six points with a spanking 5-1.

If there was supposed to be little on the outcome of this meeting, they forgot to tell Dugard who busted a gut to go by Andersen to stop an Oxford 5-1 after the break.

And when Norris and Povazhny ran away with heat 13, it was boiling up into an exciting finale.

Before Norris was involved in a set-to with start marshal Clive Herbert over his grid position, Dugard bade farwell to his legion of Oxford fans with a lap of honour.

And it was left to the immaculate Adams to win the match for Cheetahs in a canter.

Oxford: Andersen 10, Wiltshire 7, Johnston 6, Adams 14+1, Appleton 3, A Dryml 7+2. 47 pts.

Eastbourne: Dugard 10, , Svab 10+3, Norris 12+1, Povazhny 4+2, Barker 5, Werner 2, Kylmakorpi 0. 43 pts

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: Dugard, Svab, Andersen, Appleton. 60.2 secs.

Heat 2: Appleton, Werner, Dryml, Kylmakorpi. 60.8.

Heat 3: Norris, Wiltshire, Povazhny, Johnston (exc/unfair riding) awd'd.

Heat 4: Dryml, Adams, Barker, Kylmakorpi. 60.3.

Heat 5: Johnston, Dugard, Wiltshire, Svab. 60.4.

Heat 6: Andersen, Barker, Johnston, Werner. 60.2.

Heat 7: Adams, Norris, Povazhny, Appleton. 59.8.

Heat 8: Svab, Andersen, Dryml, Kylmakorpi. 61.2.

Heat 9: Wiltshire, Barker, Johnston, Werner. 60.6.

Heat 10: Andersen, Dryml, Dugard (TS), Norris. 60.7.

Heat 11: Adams, Dugard, Svab, Appleton. 59.6.

Heat 12: Norris, Svab (TS), Wiltshire, Dryml. 61.3.

Heat 13: Adams, Dugard, Andersen, Barker. 61.1.

Heat 14: Norris (TS), Povazhny, Johnston, Appleton. 62.0.

Heat 15: Adams, Svab, Norris, Wiltshire. 60.5.