Oxord Cheetahs 39, Eastbourne Eagles 51

GRESHAM Oxford Cheetahs proved no match for an Eastbourne side searching for their first away points in last night's Elite League speedway clash at Oxford Stadium.

How the fans wished new signing Toddd Wiltshire had been riding instead of being on the centre green as Cheetahs old boy Martin Dugard played havoc.

Dugard rode out of his skin and the way he pulled in first Paul Hurry and then Steve Johnston was speedway at its best.

'Stormin Norman', as he was known in his Oxford days, measured up Johno a treat of the final bend to whip inside to win by half a wheel.

Once again, the only shining light for Cheetahs was Jason Crump, fresh from his grand prix triumph where only a broken chain in his third ride stopped the Aussie plundering an 18-point full house.

The team changes saw Jan Staechmann drop down to reserve with Steve Schofield taking over at No 2. But after an improved showing from the Dane, who took both Gary Havelock and Roban Johansen in heat 12, it looks as though Lawrence Hare is going to get the chop from Cheetahs when they ride at King's Lynn on Wednesday. It proved a dreadful night for Johnston who was presented with the Golden Helmet after he beat Billy Hamill in style recently. Apart from one solid victory, he was always struggling and proved no match for Dugard in the Golden Helmet.

The Eagles made a confident start and were soon looking good. As early as heat six they opened up a 22-14 lead, but there were still hopes in the Cheetahs camp that they could pull it back.

The vistors maintained their big lead after that epic Dugard effort in heat 9, but one crumb of comfort was a 5-1 from Crump and Schofield which brought Cheetahs within six points of their rivals.

Any hopes that the fightback was on were soon dashed as Stefan Danno and Dave Norris left Paul Hurry and Hare trailing.

Johnston and Hare were ouclassed in heat 14 leaving only the brilliant Crump to beat Dugard in the last heat.

Oxford: Crump 15, Steachmann 6, Hurry 5+1, Johnston 5, Schofiled 4+2, Hare 4.

Eastbourne: Dugard 14, Danno 10, Norris 9, Havelock 7, Andersson 6, Johansen 5. HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: Crump, Danno, Norris, Schofield 60.1 secs.

Heat 2: Andersson, Hare, Johansen, Staechmann 60.3.

Heat 3: Crump, Danno, Havelock, Johnston 60.4.

Heat 4: Dugard, Hurry, Andersson, Steachmann (e/f) 59.9.

Heat 5: Johnston, Norris, Danno, Hare 61.0.

Heat 6: Johnasen, Dugard, Schofield, Crump (e/f) 61.9.

Heat 7: Dugard, Hurry, Havelock, Johnston 60.8.

Heat 8: Norris, Steachmann, Schofield, Andersson (e/f) 61.4.

Heat 9: Dugard, Johnston, Hurry, Johansen 61.2.

Heat 10: Crump, Schofield, Norris, Havelock 61.2.

Heat 11: Danno, Norris, Hare, Hurry (e/f) 61.2.

Heat 12: Steachmann, Havelock, Johansen, Johnston 61.1.

Heat 13: Crump, Danno, Dugard, Hurry 61.8.

Heat 14: Havelock, Andersson, Hare, Johnston 61.8.

Heat 15: Crump, Dugard, Staechmann, Norris 60.4.

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