ASHTON Boughen produced a wonder ride to help Oxford Cheetahs recover from an early 10-point deficit to win 47-43 in their Championship meeting at Plymouth Gladiators.
After securing second place with a 47-43 defeat at Scunthorpe Scorpions on Friday night, Cheetahs found themselves 17-7 down at Plymouth.
Luke Killeen crashed out while second in Heat 2, while skipper Scott Nicholls went back 15 metres after a tapes offence in Heat 4.
Sam Masters came into Heat 6 as a tactical substitute and stormed around Dan Thompson on the second bend, as he became Oxford’s first heat winner, and joined Nicholls for a 4-2.
In Heat 8, Cameron Heeps and Killeen rode to a 5-1, and Cheetahs closed in further with a 4-2 in Heat 9 from Nicholls and Jody Scott, with the latter holding off Patrick Baek.
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Masters ended the unbeaten status of Ben Barker in Heat 11, with Boughen then stealing the show.
For the majority of Heat 12, Plymouth held a 5-1, but Boughen closed in on Thompson twins Dan and Joe, before storming around them for an exciting photo finish.
Masters and Nicholls levelled the scores with a 4-2 in Heat 13, before another thriller in Heat 14.
Jordan Jenkins chased race leader Joe Thompson, and moved inside at the same time Jacob Hook produced a similar move on Killeen, with the latter losing control and crashing on the third turn.
The race was awarded as a 3-3, with Jenkins the winner, meaning the scores were level going into Heat 15.
Nicholls produced a fabulous start from the outside gate, as he and Masters secured a 5-1, to give Cheetahs the win, in the first time they led the meeting.
Oxford Chargers wrapped up their National Development League fixtures with a 50-39 victory over Scunthorpe Stags, while Oxford Spires completed their meetings with a 50-40 defeat to Leicester Lions in the Premiership.
Spires finished fifth in the table in Oxford’s first season back in the top-flight for 17 years.
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