OXFORD Spires return to Premiership action tomorrow at Sandy Lane when they look to get back to winning ways against the Belle Vue Aces, writes Leon Foster-Hill.

Due to rain affecting their previous home fixture, it has been nearly a month since the Spires were last in action on home shale, when they enjoyed a very slim victory over King’s Lynn Stars.

Since then, the Spires have had two defeats on the road at Sheffield and Belle Vue, leaving them in fifth place overall.

Team manager Peter Schroeck acknowledges that the Aces have a strong top two, whilst remaining confident of what is possible.

He said: “We got caught out a little bit with some problems here and there. I know that heat 13 and 15 cost us at their place, and the boys know what they have to do.”

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He also believes the Spires can match the Cheetahs’ feat of pulling back a 12-point deficit against Glasgow, and believes that the bonus point is still up for grabs.

“We kept it really close in the early stages and I am sure that we can turn it around,” he said.

The fixture kicks off a busy period for the Spires as they head to Leicester on Bank Holiday Monday with the return, which was rained off at the start of the month, rearranged for June 3.

Cheetahs and Chargers on the Rampage

Oxford Cheetahs and Oxford Chargers were in rampant form at Sandy Lane last week with big wins in their respective league campaigns.

With the Cheetahs out of the BSN Series, and a strong-looking Redcar Bears in town, there was some trepidation ahead of the first heat.

It looked as though it was going to be another tough one with the Bears two points up after heat five, however the Cheetahs got into the groove and notched up four maximum heat wins in the next five races, effectively ending the Bears’ night.

Cameron Heeps returned to his usual number two and partnered Sam Masters to three maximums, as well as being part of a fourth with Ashton Boughen in heat eight.

A win for the Cheetahs in the first league meeting is the best start possible to the 2024 campaign.

There was bad news however, with confirmation that Henry Atkins would be on the sidelines for some time after his nasty fall a week earlier. He has had to have his finger plated in a major blow for the popular youngster, and everyone at the club wishes him well.

Cheetahs travel to Championship newcomers Workington on Saturday, where the start time is 3pm.