Oxford Cheetahs rose to third place in the table after beating their old rival Poole Pirates breaking their 100 per cent record.

Cheetahs won a concluding super heat at the Oxford Stadium with a maximum 7-2 from duo Sam Masters and Scott Nicholls, after the main meeting was tied at 45-45 on Wednesday night (June 19).

Poole entered the meeting with a 100% Cab Direct Championship record, while Cheetahs had won their previous three home league fixtures.

The super heat is a recent innovation in British Speedway introduced into the Premiership in 2022 and extended to all three leagues in 2023.

The winning team in the Super Heat takes both league points, while the losing team still picks up a point, as they would have done for a draw.

The Cheetahs led up until heat eight, then the Pirates took the lead in heat eleven.

A maximum heat win in thirteen levelled the scores and two shared heats followed after a nasty tumble in heat fourteen for Cameron Heeps.

There were no mistakes in the super-heat from Sam Masters and Scott Nicholls who rode to perfection claiming the two league points and moving the Cheetahs to third in the table.

Masters said: “I’m happy we got the win because I think we deserved it.

“Everyone dug deep and everyone put in a massive effort. To beat Poole either home or away is tough and I’m stoked we’ve done that tonight.”

Masters admitted he has been ill this week with fears it could affect his performance in the race.

He added: “There’s been a bug going around the family, so I’ve felt a bit garbage this week, but it didn’t affect my performance tonight.

“We changed a couple of things on the bike that felt really good.

The point gained for losing a Super Heat took Poole to the top of the table ahead of Scunthorpe, while Cheetahs also moved up one place, ahead of Workington on race points difference.

Masters added: “I’m stoked with the result and it builds confidence to take to Redcar on Friday and for the rest of the season. If we can beat Poole, you can put up a fight with anyone.”

The Cheetahs move onto Redcar on Friday (June 21), before they return to host Workington Comets at Oxford Stadium next Wednesday (June 26) in another Cab Direct Championship clash between two play-off contenders.