Cheetahs in shock loss

OXFORD Cheetahs' hopes of moving up the Elite league table suffered a huge blow as fellow strugglers Peterborough came out on top for the second time this season, at Sandy Lane last night.

The defeat came despite a brilliant show by No 1 Todd Wiltshire who reeled off four wins in his 15-point haul, but on the night he lacked support. Cheetahs never looked like winning, even though they were still in the hunt right up to the final heat.

It was another poor home meeting for Jimmy Nilsen and the crash in heat three from man-in-form Brian Andersen didn't help Cheetahs' cause.

The track thankfully survived the four-hour downpour earlier in the day and track curator Colin Meredith and his staff did a good job to get the meeting under way.

Panther's top Swede Peter Karlsson looked in good nick to see off Mark Lemon and Jimmy Nilsen, before Panthers struck hard with an easy maximum points from Sullivan and David Howe.

Wiltshire continued his winning way, but Cheetahs hit back in style in heat eight where Lemon and Lukas Dryml wrapped up a fine 5-1 to see the home side level at 24-24.

Johnston lost a keen battle with Karlsson before Wiltshire, gating in his best style, kept the scores level going in the interval.

The Panthers received a huge boost soon in the second half as Sullivan and Howe once again left their rivals for dead on the grid.

Andersen showed a little better in heat 12, but could not cope with Sam Tesar with the all-important heat 13 beckoning.

Sullivan got off to a real flier, and was lucky not to be called back by the referee. But fortunately, Wiltshire and Nilsen kept the dangerous Karlsson at bay to give the Cheetahs' team manager the chance to bring in that sub in the penultimate heat, where only a 5-1 would do to give Cheetahs a chance.

Wiltshire was the man chosen to do the job along with Johnston

Sure enough, Wiltshire produced another cracking start, but hard as Johnston tried, he could not get close enough to challenge Tesar, and yet again it all came down to the final heat where a draw was all Oxford could hope for.

Hope was the operative word as Sullivan produced an unbelievable run to go round everybody and with Karlsson upsides. Johnston, trying too hard to catch up, hit the fence hard leaving Peterborough to cruise home. Oxford: Wiltshire 15, Johnston 7, Lemon 6+1, Nilsen 5+2, Andersen 3+1, L Dryml 3+1, A Dryml 2. 41pts.

Peterborough: Sullivan 13, Tesar 11, Karlsson 10, Howe 8, Sadler 5, Woodfield 2. 49pts.

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: Wiltshire, Howe, Sullivan, L Dryml. 61.6 secs.

Heat 2: Sadler, A Dryml, Lemon, Woodifield. 62.4.

Heat 3 (re-run): Johnston, Tesar, Howe, Andersen (f/exc). 62.18.

Heat 4: Karlsson, Lemon, Nilsen, Woodifield. 60.0.

Heat 5: Suillivan, Howe, Johnston, Andersen 60.3.

Heat 6: Wiltshire, Karlsson, L Dryml, Sadler. 60.3.

Heat 7: Tesar, Nilsen, Sadler, A Dryml. 62.1.

Heat 8: Lemon, L Dryml, Howe, Woodfield. 61.4.

Heat 9: Karlsson, Johnston, Andersen, Sadler. 60.1.

Heat 10: Wiltshire, Woodfield, Tesar, L Dryml. 60.7.

Heat 11: Sullivan, Howe, Nilsen, A Dryml. 61.2.

Heat 12: Tesar, Andersen, Sadler, Lemon. 61.1.

Heat 13: Sullivan, Wiltshire, Nilsen, Karlsson. 59.8.

Heat 14: Wiltshire, Tesar, Johnston, Woodfield. 60.6.

Heat 15 (re-run): Sullivan, Karlsson, Wiltshirer, Johnston (f/exc). 60.8. TOP STAR: Cheetahs' leading rider Todd Wiltshire checks his engine Houllier lays

down the law Shearer's tribute to Jack NASSER Hussain broke off from England's fourth Test celebrations today to challenge his side to build on their momentous Headingley display by achieving a historic series victory over West Indies in the next fortnight.

England's two-day innings and 39 runs victory, the first time since 1966 they have beaten the tourists by such a margin, was only the 16th time ever that a Test has been settled inside two days and their first since a 10 wickets win over South Africa at the Oval in 1912.

But captain Hussain is more concerned with creating new history when all their hard work, a Triangular One-Day series and six Tests this summer, will culminate in the outcome of the final Test against West Indies at the Oval, starting on August 31.

He said; We've just got to make sure we finish the job. We've never turned the corner until we've won a Test series and we're concentrating and really focusing on that."

Hussain's stance may seem churlish after one of England's most outstanding victories in recent years. They resumed the second day 67 adrift on 105-5, battled their way to a 100-run first innings lead before dismissing West Indies for just 61 in 126 dramatic minutes.

After Craig White's 5-57 on the opening day, there was once again a Yorkshire theme to England's display. Man-of-the-match Michael Vaughan hitt a determined 76 before Darren Gough demonstrated his increasing effectiveness with the new ball by claiming four for eight in 29 deliveries.

Andrew Caddick added the finishing touches to the breathtaking display by grabbing five for five in 15 balls and was also, like Gough earlier in the day, denied a hat-trick in that spell. TIGER Woods (left) stayed on course to win his third major of the season when he shot a second round 67 to lead after two rounds of the USPGA championship at Valhalla, Kentucky. Woods is on 133, a shot clear of fellow American Scott Dunlap. Four shots further back are Davis Love, Fred Funk and JP Hayes. Darren Clarke is on 140.