Swindon 38, Oxford 52 By JOHN GAISFORD FORMER world champion Billy Hamill stole centre stage with a brilliant performance as Gresham Cheetahs thrashed their local rivals in a humdinger of a local derby at the Abbey Stadium last night.

The Californian, guesting for the injured Jason Crump, hit the perfect 18 points and gave promoter Steve Purchase the birthday present he was looking for.

Purchase will also be happy with the form of Todd Wiltshire, who at last came good with some terrific speedway.

Cheetahs were good value for their easy victory - their second over their arch rivals in a week.

In a meeting that saw Cheetahs hold sway in the opening half-a-dozen heats, the Robins hit back to lead for the first time in heat 7 and maintained a four-point lead until the match took a dramatic turn in heat 11.

Hamill came from the back to catch home favourite Leigh Adams, with Steve Johnston snapping at his back wheel, when Adams suffered a puncture to give the visitors a welcome 5-1.

Wiltshire and skipper Steve Schofield then thumped in another 5-1 and Cheetahs were on their way.

The Robins still had the ammunition to hit back with three heats to go, but with Hamill and Paul Hurry in determined mood, they saw off Adams and Mark Loram, who was standing in for the injured Jimmy Nilsen.

Every man jack of the Cheetahs side contributed in some way - like Jan Staechmann's victory along with Wiltshire in the penultimate heat.

Just for good measure, Hamill and Wiltshire slammed in a final 5-1 to leave Cheetahs cock-a-hoop and unbeaten in four matches.

Swindon: Adams 13, Loram 10, Karger 9, Jorgensen 5, Gjedde 1, Berge 0. 38 pts.

Oxford: Hamill 18, Wiltshire 11+2, Johnston 6+1, Hurry 6+1, Schofield 6+1, Staechmann 5+2. 52 pts.

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: Hamill, Loram, Johnston, Gjedde (e/f) 66.5 secs.

Heat 2: (re-run) Karger, Schofield, Staechmann, Berge (f/exc) 67.5.

Heat 3: Hamill, Loram, Wiltshire, Jorgensen 66.2.

Heat 4: Adams, Schofield, Karger, Staechmann, Hurry (exc/tps) 66.7.

Heat 5: Hamill, Jorgensen, Johnston, Berge (exc/2 mins) 67.2.

Heat 6: Loram, Hurry, Gjedde, Schofield 67.7.

Heat 7: Adams, Karger, Wiltshire, Johnston 67.9.

Heat 8: Karger, Johnston, Staechmann, Gjedde 67.8.

Heat 9: Adams, Hurry, Jorgensen, Schofield 67.6.

Heat 10: Loram, Wiltshire, Hurry, Karger 67.3.

Heat 11: Hamill, Johnston, Adams, Berge (exc/2 mins) 67.0.

Heat 12: Wiltshire, Schofield, Jorgensen, Karger (f) 69.0.

Heat 13: Hamill, Adams, Hurry, Loram 67.6.

Heat 14: Staechmann, Wiltshire, Jorgensen, Karger 68.4.

Heat 15: Hamill, Wiltshire, Adams, Loram 67.2.

Youth Development League: Swindon 15, Oxford 20.

GRESHAM Cheetahs again include Billy Hamiil tonight when they take on Wolverhampton in an Elite League clash at Oxford Stadium (7.45).

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