Oxford 43, Coventry 47

DESPITE taking the Coventry Bees to a final-heat decider, Cheetahs couldn't not stop the visitors continuing their Indian sign over the Sandy Lane outfit in another Elite League speedway thriller at the Stadium last night.

The meeting was marked by a brilliant home debut for Brian Andersen with paid 16 points.

Hopes were high that Cheetahs could gain their third successive win, but the might of Billy Hamill, Greg Hancock and reserve John Jorgensen condemned them to their eighth defeat in a row against the Bees.

Contrary to pre-match reports, the Bees were at full strength, both John Jorgensen and Shaun Tacey missing practice for the Intercontinental final and opting to ride here. J

Stuart Robson escaped unhurt but badly shaken after a high-speed crash in heat three as all four riders crunched together, but took his place in the re-run after a 15 minute gap.

The slick-gating Bees took the early initiative with Hancock and Hamill both winning their opening races.

The only consolation for Cheetahs was Andersen taking his first race in his new colours as the Bees went 22-14 ahead and forced the home side to bring in Andersen as a tactical sub.

However, Jimmy Nilsen had no answer to Lee Richardson, and team manager Colin Meredith was forced to bring in Wiltshire for Lukas Dryml in heat seven to try and arrest the decline.

It did the trick as Wiltshire was soon joined by Mark Lemon to relegate Tacey and Scott Robson to the minor honours and bring Oxford back into the reckoning.

Andersen gave the all-conquering Hamill a fright down the back straight before the Californian turned it on as Bees regained their six-point advantage, opening the way for more tactical subs. Nilsen was called up to partner Wiltshire in heat 10. The Oxford pair gated, but Nilsen, still carrying the shoulder injury, couldn't stop Richardson sailing by the interval.

Cheetahs were certainly missing Steve Johnston who, unlike the Bees pair, opted for the practice session in Denmark.

Nilsen dug deep after the break to inflict the first defeat of the night on Hancock, but couldn't make any inroads on the Coventry lead.

It now looked beyond Cheetahs with the vital heat 13 coming up.

Anything less than a 5-1 for the home side would spell curtains and so it proved asHancock got a flyer from Nilsen who again rode a blinder to deny Hamill.

But the Bees were just three points away from victory, with the bonus point already secure.

Andersen and Lemon gave Cheetahs a glimmer of hope for a draw when they took the penultimate heat 5-1. But Hamill made sure the Bees continued their superiority in the decider. Oxford: Andersen 13+3, , Wiltshire 11, Nilsen 8, Lemon 8+2, A Dryml 2, L Dryml 1. 43 pts.

Coventry: Hamill 13, Hancock 11, Jorgensen 11+2, Richardson 8, Tacey 2, Sc Robson 2, St Robson 0. 47 pts.

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: Hancock, Wiltshire, Tacey, L Dryml. 59.5 secs.

Heat 2: Jorgensen, Lemon, Sc Robson, A Dryml. 61.0.

Heat 3: (re-run) Andersen, Richardson, L Dryml, St Robson. 60.5.

Heat 4: Hamill, Lemon, Sc Robson, Nilsen. 61.0.

Heat 5: Hancock, Jorgensen, Andersen, Tacey. 60.6.

Heat 6: Hamill, Jorgensen, Wiltshire, L Dryml. 60.9.

Heat 7: Richardson, Nilsen, Andersen, St Robson. 61.0.

Heat 8: Wiltshire, Lemon, Tacey, Sc Robson. 61.5.

Heat 9: Hamill, Andersen, Jorgensen, A Dryml. 60.0.

Heat 10: Wiltshire, Richardson, Nilsen, St Robson. 60.4.

Heat 11: Nilsen, Hancock, Jorgensen, Lemon. 60.5.

Heat 12: Jorgensen, Andersen, Richardson, Lemon. 61.3.

Heat 13: Hancock, Nilsen, Hamill, Wiltshire. 60.9.

Heat 14: Andersen, Lemon, Jorgensen, Sc Robson. 61.7.

Heat 15: Hamill, Wiltshire, Andersen, Hancock. 60.8.