Oxford Cheetahs move three points clear at top of the table

Cab Direct Championship leaders Monarch Oxford Cheetahs secured their biggest score of the season with a convincing 57-33 victory over second-placed Workington Comets at Oxford Stadium on Wednesday.

The win puts the Cheetahs three points clear at the top of the table, halfway through the season.

Teenagers Ashton Boughen and Jody Scott took the lead with a 5-1 in heat two.

Cameron Heeps top-scored for the Cheetahs (Image: Steve Edmunds)

Scott was replacing Adam Roynon, who picked up a knock at Redcar last week.

The Cheetahs then pressed home their advantage and were 30-18 ahead by the end of heat eight.

Comets manager James Denham made a tactical switch in heat nine which saw Craig Cook step in to join Troy Batchelor and narrow the gap to just eight points with a 5-1.

In heat 10, Sam Masters and Cameron Heeps overtook Claus Vissing on the same bend to re-establish a 12-point advantage for the Cheetahs.

From heats 12 to 14, the Cheetahs pushed ahead with three back-to-back maximum heat advantages.

Luke Killeen and Scott combined for a 5-1 in heat 12 after Antti Vuolas fell in pursuit of Killeen.

Cook was easily the pick of Comets, winning five of his six outings – the only heat wins by a Comet on the evening.

But he trailed in last in heat 13 after Oxford skipper Scott Nicholls thrust inside both him and Batchelor on the opening two laps of the race to join Masters for a 5-1.

Jordan Jenkins surged from fourth to second in heat 14, including pushing inside Vissing with a lap remaining, to join Boughen for a 5-1.

Heeps and Jenkins took an extra outing and shutt out Batchelor to follow home Cook for a concluding 3-3 in heat 15.

Heeps top-scored for Cheetahs with 11+2, followed by Masters and Nicholls, and Jenkins.

Jody Scott said: "I’m really happy to score six paid eight for Cheetahs tonight – scoring points for Cheetahs was my aim.

“Pete [Schroeck, Oxford team manager] gave me the opportunity tonight and I’m buzzed that I’ve responded to that by scoring good points. “Getting out of the start is key for me to be able to do well at this level, and that’s why I’ve been practicing my starts because it does make a big difference and it’s paying off.

“I just want to keep on progressing. I’ve been working as hard this year as I ever have been, because it’s what I want to do with my career. Hopefully the opportunities for Cheetahs will continue to come and I can continue to score points.”