OXFORD Cheetahs were controversially denied first place in the Championship Pairs, losing out to Redcar Bears.

The final saw Cheetahs pair Sam Masters and Scott Nicholls against Danny King and Charles Wright of Redcar.

The Bears made the quicker start and were leading when Nicholls came underneath Wright on the old pits turn.

Wright ran into Nicholls’ back wheel, with both taking a nasty tumble, and the referee decided to exclude Nicholls after watching the replays, thus handing the win to the Bears.

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Masters said: “I think it was the wrong call personally, but that’s speedway.

“They say the guy in front has right of way and he hit the back of Scotty, so by saying that, Charles should have been excluded, rules are rules.”

Cheetahs team manager Peter Schroeck added: “A throttle goes two ways, Scott was in front and Charles caught his back wheel.

“Scott feels a little hard done by and I have to agree I am afraid. I think the wrong decision was made on that one.”

Glasgow Tigers topped the qualification rounds with 26 points, and Oxford were second with 24. Poole Pirates and Redcar also progressed to the semi-finals.

There was some terrific action through the night, and after 18 heats of speedway, the track was slickening off, which seemed to suit the Redcar pair who easily dispatched the Tigers in semi-final one.

Oxford were against Poole in semi-final two, and followed up their excellent away win on Wednesday by sailing through to the final.