Oxford 42,Coventry 48

BOOSTED by the Bees' American speedway superstars Greg Hancock and Billy Hamill in a dramatic last-heat decider at the Stadium last night.

From the outset this Elite League clash had all the markings of going down to the wire once again, and , it was no surprise when Oxford needed a 5-1 to pip the Bees at the final countdown. But it was not to be.

Following a string of drawn heats, heat 13 proved vital. The teams were level at 36-36 when Jason Crump and Paul Hurry took on Brian Andersen and the superb Hancock.

Andersen flew the gate with his partner last, but Hurry then drifted wide and Hancock, who had already passed Crump joined his partner to put the Bees in the driving seat.

It needed something special to keep Cheetahs in the hunt and it came in heat 14 where Todd Wiltshire had to deliver an explosive gate to fend off Hamill. He had to do it twice as Stuart Robson fell at the first attempt to run it. It was easily Wiltshire's best effort since he joined the club.

This gave the visitors a 43-41 advantage with the final heat to come, and while Cheetahs enjoyed the good fortune in the final heat at Brandon on Thursday, there was no such luck in this return encounter. The Americans are a formidable duo at the best of times. Wiltshire flew out again with Crump given absolutely no room at all. Once the Bees ' pair got to grips with Wiltshire they flew by to signal their delight with customary double wheelie.

Cheetahs were confident of victory and the bonus point especially after George Stancl had been brought in for Steve Schofield who was forced to pull out after aggravating a knee injury at Coventry the night before. But Stancl did not perform up to expectations.

Crump, as usual, was the backbone of the Cheertahs side and along with Wiltshire were the only home riders to dominate with any effect as Hurry suffered more engine problems. Oxford: Crump 11, Wiltshire 8+1, Staechmann 6+3, Stancl 6+1, Hurry 6, Johnston 5+2. 42 pts.

Coventry: Hancock 15+3, Hamill 15+1, Andersen 11+1, Robson 5, Tacey 2+2, Walsh 0. 48 pts.

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: Crump, Andersen, Tacey, Johnston 58.5 secs. Heat 2: Stancl, Staechmann, Robson, Walsh 59.2. Heat 3: Crump, Hamill, Andersen, Wiltshire 58.4. Heat 4: Robson, Hancock, Staechmann, Hurry 59.0. Heat 5: Andersen, Wiltshire, Stancl, Tacey 59.3. Heat 6: Hancock, Crump, Johnston, Walsh 58.6. Heat 7: Hamill, Hancock, Stancl, Hurry 59.3. Heat 8: Johnston, Steachmann, Robson, Tacey 59.9. Heat 9: Hancock, Hurry, Wiltshire, Walsh 59.8. Heat 10: Hamill, Crump, Johnston, Robson 60.0. Heat 11: Hurry, Andersen, Tacey, Stancl 60.1. Heat 12: Hamill, Wiltshire, Staechmann, Robson (e/f) 60.2. Heat 13: Andersen, Hancock, Hurry, Crump 59.7. Heat 14: (re-run) Wiltshire, Hamill, Stancl, Robson (e/f) 60.9. Heat 15: Hancock, Hamill, Crump, Wiltshire 59.9.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.