Oxford Cheetahs 53, Eastbourne Eagles 37

THE J T Commercials Oxford Fox FM Cheetahs recovered from a nightmare start to emerge comfortable winners of their first Knockout Cup match of the season at the Stadium last nigh., writes LEON HILL.

It began disastrously for the Cheetahs who were totally out of sorts and had two maximum heat defeats inflicted on them, meaning that they were eight points down going into the third heat.

Steve Johnston and Todd Wiltshire looked to be turning the tide in heat three, with Johno riding a superb first lap to join Wiltshire on course, it appeared. for a 5-1.

But halfway round the pits bend, Johnston lifted and sent himself flying into the fence.

The race had to be stopped as Johnston was stuck underneath the safety fence. However, an improved Wiltshire picked up the first win of the night for a Cheetah to keep the defecit to eight.

Maximum points followed in heat four to half the gap, but Eastbourne hit back in the next to open up their lead to six points. That was to be the last time, the Eagles outscored the Cheetahs in any heat.

The brothers Dryml levelled the scores in heat eight and that seemed to kick-start the rest of the team.

Heats nine and ten saw Oxford pick up maximum points to open an eight-point gap.

A tactical substitute ride for Martin Dugard, as well as his programmed ride, saw the Eagles draw the next two but then the race of the night came in heat 13.

Cheetahs' Brian Andersen gated well and took the lead, but Leigh Adams and Dugard fought a battle-royal for the first half of the race, passing and re-passing each other.

On the last lap, when the Oxford duo had pulled out something of a lead, Andersen lifted coming out of the second bend and nearly shot himself through the fence.

Adams managed to slow down and miss him, allowing Dugard to catch up. Amazingly Andersen not only held onto the bike but he retained his lead, thanks to Adams, and the last-bend challenge from Dugard came to nothing, although all three crossed the line almost together.

Two 4-2 heat advantages in the final races gave the Cheetahs a healthy 16-point advantage for the second leg to Fortress Arlington tonight.

The Cheetahs will be weakened by the loss of the Dryml brothers, who have a World Championship qualifier in Poland.

Lukas will be covered by rider replacement, with Garry Stead guesting for Ales. Oxford: Adams 13+2, Wiltshire 9+1, A Dryml 8+2, L Dryml 8+1, Andersen 8, S Johnston 7, Appleton 0.

Eastbourne: M Dugard 12, S Andersson 7, Werner 6+2, Kylmakorpi 6, M Andersson 3+1, Norris 2+2, D Barker 1.

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: Dugard, Werner, Andersen, L Dryml. 60.83 secs.

Heat 2: Kylmakorpi, M Andersson, A Dryml, Appleton. 61.02.

Heat 3: Wiltshire, S Andersson, Norris, Johnston (Fx). 59.93 (rerun).

Heat 4: A Dryml, Adams, M Andersson, Barker. 59.09.

Heat 5: Werner, Johnston, Dugard, Wiltshire. 59.67.

Heat 6: L Dryml, Kylmakorpi, Andersen, Barker. 59.80.

Heat 7: Adams, S Andersson, Norris, Appleton. 58.95.

Heat 8: L Dryml, A Dryml, Kylmakorpi, Werner. 60.95.

Heat 9: Johnston, Wiltshire, Barker, M Andersson. 60.24.

Heat 10: Andersen, L Dryml, S Andersson, Norris. 60.99.

Heat 11: Adams, Dugard, Werner, Appleton. 59.40.

Heat 12: Dugard, Johnston, A Dryml, Kylmakorpi. 61.11.

Heat 13: Andersen, Adams, Dugard, Barker. (R) 61.02.

Heat 14: Wiltshire, S Andersson, A Dryml, Werner. 61.55.

Heat 15: Adams, Dugard, Wiltshire, S Andersson. 60.24.