Oxford Cheetahs 47,

Wolverhampton 43

By JOHN GAISFORD GRESHAM Oxford Cheetahs continue in pole position after this Craven Shield speedway thriller at Oxford Stadium last night.

It took a brilliant last-ditch effort from No 1 Todd Wiltshire to sway the meeting in their favour, just when it looked as though Wolves' team manager Peter Adams had got it right.

The Karlsson brothers, Michael and Peter, two of the world's top riders, thought they had things stitched up, but they didn't reckon on the resolve and fighting spirit of first Wiltshire in heat 13, Paul Hurry in heat 14, and a stupendous six-lap final heat by Wiltshire that just saw Cheetahs home.

All this happened after a dramatic opening in heat three where George Stancl and Paul Hurry crashed. Lawrence Hare swerved to avoid the stricken Stancl and piled straight into track raker Donald Pocock, knocking him flying.

Stancl had to withdraw from the meeting with a wrist injury and Hurry, who took a bang on the head, was suffering poor vision and took a long time before deciding he would carry on riding. In the event, it was just as well he did as he and Steve Johnston took the fight to injury-strapped Wolves. There was a long delay, but after the dust had settled, Cheetahs clawed back Wolves' slender advantage.

The excellent Hurry got the better of Richard Juul - himself the victim of a life-threatening crash here three years ago - in heat eight to pull the home side level at 24-24.

Oxford, without the suspended Jan Staechmann, who earned a three-day ban from his Danish Federation for failing to ride in the Danish championships, picked up eight points using rider-replacement in his absence.

Wolves, with so many injuries, were there for the taking and Johnston was the star man with a superb paid 16 points, again earning the Rider of the Night award.

The Karlssons threatened to star in the late, late show, but when the chips were down, the Oxford lads were up for it to take the three points on offer, having won comfortably at Wolverhampton ten days ago. Oxford: Johnston 15+1, Wiltshire 11+2, Hurry 10, Boyce 6, Rossiter 3, Hare 2+1. 47 pts.

Wolves: M Karlsson 14+1, P Karlsson 11+2, Norris 8, Jull 7+2, Taylor 2, Stancl 1. 43 pts.

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: M Karlsson, Wiltshire, Stancl, Rossiter 59.2 secs.

Heat 2: Johnston, Juul, Rossiter, Taylor 60.7.

Heat 3: (re-run) Norris, Juul, Hare, Stancl (inj), Hurry (exc) 62.1.

Heat 4: Boyce, Taylor, Karlsson, Rossiter 61.8.

Heat 5: Hurry, M Karlsson, Juul, Hare 60.5.

Heat 6: P Karlsson, Johnston, Wiltshire, Taylor 60.1.

Heat 7: Johnston, Norris, Boyce, (only Tthree riders) 60.9.

Heat 8: Hurry, Juul, Rossiter, Taylor 61.0.

Heat 9: P Karlsson, hurry, Hare, Juul 60.3.

Heat 10: Johnston, Wiltshire, Norris, Taylor 61.0.

Heat 11: M Karlsson, Boyce, Johnston, Taylor 60.1.

Heat 12: Johnston, Norris, Rossiter, Juul 61.1.

Heat 13: Wiltshire, P Karlsson, M Karlsson, Boyce 61.0.

Heat 14: M Karlsson, Hurry, P Karlsson, Johnston 60.3.

Heat 15: Wiltshire, M Karlsson, P Karlsson, Boyce 91.2.

Story date: Saturday 22 May

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