Oxford heat leader Jimmy Nilsen left Wimborne Road convinced referee Frank Ebdon robbed them of victory. against title contenders Poole last night. The Cheetahs forced an unexpected 45-45 Elite League draw on the south coast.

But with a bit of luck they could have picked up only their third away league win of the season.

Oxford, who produced nine of the heat winners, were 38-34 ahead going into a controversial heat 13.

Nilsen was warned by Ebdon for moving at the tapes after the first attempt to run the race was aborted.

He was then excluded, harshly it seemed, for rolling at the start of the re-run before the tapes went up.

That put Nilsen back 15 metres for the second re-run which saw Poole's Mark Loram and Gary Havelock combine for a 5-1 ahead of Todd Wiltshire which levelled the score at 39-39.

Oxford's Steve Johnston and Lukas Dryml got a vital 4-2 over Alun Rossiter in heat 14, but Havelock pegged Wiltshire behind him to win heat 15 and, with Loram third, Poole salvaged a draw.

Afterwards Nilsen said: "The ref was out to get me all night. I don't think I rolled at the tapes in the re-run. In fact, I'm convinced I never rolled.

"The first time I probably did, but not the second time and his decision has cost us the win.

"We were so incensed our team manager Colin Meredith decided there was no point sending me out for heat 15. The ref was looking for me."

TEAMS:

Poole: M Loram 14+1, G Havelock 12+1, S Nicholls 7+1, L Gunnestad 6+4, C Watson 2, E Lindqvist 2, A Rossiter 2. 45.

Oxford: T Wiltshire 11+1, L Dryml 7+2, S Johnston 7, B Andersen 6+1, J Nilsen 6, M Lemon 4, A Dryml 4. 45

HEAT DETAILS:

Heat 1: (re-run) Wiltshire, Havelock, Gunnestad, A Dryml, Lemon (exc tapes). 58.7 secs. Heat 2: A Dryml, L Dryml, Lindqvist, Rossiter. 61.7. Heat 3: Johnston, Andersen, Nicholls, Watson. 60.4. Heat 4: Loram, A Dryml, Lindqvist, Rossiter. 60.2. Heat 5: Lemon, Wiltshire, Nicholls, Watson, 60.7. Heat 6: Nilsen, Havelock, Gunnestad, A Dryml. 60.5. Heat 7: Nicholls, Loram, Johnston, Andersen, 60.4. Heat 8: Loram, Gunnestad, A Dryml, L Dryml, Lemon (exc 2 mins). 60.8. Heat 9: Nilsen, Watson, Nicholls, A Dryml (dns), 61.4. Heat 10: Havelock, Gunnestad, Andersen, Johnston. 61.2. Heat 11: Wiltshire, Loram, Lemon, Rossiter. 60.4 Heat 12: Andersen, L Dryml, Nicholls, Lindqvist. 61.3. Heat 13: (2nd re-run) Loram, Havelock, Wiltshire, Nilsen (moving tapes, 15m back). 60.8. Heat 14: Johnston, Rossiter, L Dryml, Watson. 61.5. Heat 15: Havelock, Wiltshire, Loram, Andersen. 60.9.