Oxford Cheetahs 47, Ipswich Witches 43

GRESHAM Oxford Cheetahs finally got it right as they ended a dismal nine-match losing run by beating the Witches in their final Elite League encounter of the season at the Stadium last night.

In the end they were unlucky not to get the bonus point which would have put them ahead of Eastbourne. Instead, they had to settle for one position off the bottom.

However, several riders finally pulled their socks up to try and impress the promoters for next season. Steve Johnston and Paul Hurry did their chances no harm with some superb riding, while Alun Rossiter, widely expected to get the chop next year, came up with a fighting paid nine points.

The normally reliable Todd Wiltshire was down on power and it showed at the gate, his strongest point. But he never gave up on a night when Cheetahs threatened to run away with things only to be pulled back by the brilliance of England No 1 Chris Louis and guest Ronnie Correy.

Louis provided some superb action. Twice he came from last to first and seemed to have so much more power than his rivals, he looked jet propelled.

Lawrence Hare had a night to forget blowing his engine to smithereens on the grid in heat four and rode the rest of the meeting on Alun Rossiter's bike without much success, while the Asda Rider of the Season Jan Staechmann, scored his usual solid tally to keep Cheetahs in touch.

Cheetahs challenge really took off in heat three where Johnston and Hurry zipped to an impressive 5-1, and they repeated the feat three heats later as Louis met his masters for the only time. He won his other five rides and was the star of the night.

Oxford were rocked by an exclusion for Hurry in heat nine, but soon afterwards Wiltshire and Staechmann restored their advantage before victory was clinched by Johnston and Rossiter with a 5-1 in the penultimate heat. Oxford: Johnston 11+1, Hurry 8+1, Wiltshire 8, Boyce 7, Rossiter 6+3, Staechmann 6+1, Hare 1+1. 47 pts.

Ipswich: Louis 16, Correy 12+2, Woodifield 6, Clouting 5, Svab 3, Bird 1+1. 43 pts.

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: Louis, Wiltshire, Clouting, Staechmann. 59.9 secs.

Heat 2: Woodifield, Rossiter, Hare, Bird. 61.5.

Heat 3: Johnston, Hurry, Woodifield, Svab (ret). 60.4.

Heat 4 (re-run) Boyce, Correy, Bird, Hare (15 yds). 61.5.

Heat 5: Hurry, Johnston, Louis, Clouting. 59.6.

Heat 6: Staechmann, Correy, Wiltshire, Woodifield. 60.7.

Heat 7: Louis, Boyce, Rossiter, Scab. 60.3.

Heat 8: Clouting, Correy, Staechmann, Hare. 60.8.

Heat 9: (re-run) Correy, Johnston, Woodifield, Hurry (exc). 60.9.

Heat 10: Wiltshire, Staechmann, Clouting, Svab. 61.3.

Heat 11: Louis, Boyce, Rossiter, Clouting. 61.4.

Heat 12: Hurry, Svab, Woodifield , Hare. 60.9.

Heat 13: Louis, Wiltshire, Correy, Boyce. 61.1.

Heat 14: Johnston, Rossiter, Svab, Bird. 62.6.

Heat 15: Louis, Correy, Johnston, Hurry (ret). 91.4.

Story date: Saturday 16 October

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