OXFORD Cheetahs narrowly missed out 46-44 in their Championship clash at Edinburgh Monarchs.

Neither side took a 5-1 all evening, and Cheetahs went into the final heat two points down, and represented by Scott Nicholls and the previously unbeaten Sam Masters.

Edinburgh’s Justin Sedgmen was first away ahead of the Oxford pair, but Nicholls swept around him around after a lap, while Josh Pickering passed Masters into third place at the same time.

Masters thrust under Sedgmen on the fourth turn of lap two, but moments later, Pickering flew round Nicholls into the lead.

Sedgmen pulled out on the third lap with a sick motor, but with Pickering up front, Monarchs claimed the win.

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Cheetahs still comfortably won the aggregate bonus point by 98-82, which takes them into fourth place and into the play-off spots.

Oxford Charger Jody Scott, replacing the injured Henry Atkins, rode in his first full meeting at Championship level. He was in second place at one point of Heat 2, but he eventually fell in that race.

He also gave Lasse Fredriksen a run for his money in Heat 6, but ultimately his finished the night with no reward to show for his efforts.

Both Jordan Jenkins (4+2) and Luke Killeen (2) rode better than their final tallies suggested.