Swindon 41, Oxford 49

GRESHAM Oxford Cheetahs continued their superb opening to the season with a brilliant victory over old rivals Swindon in a challenge at the Abbey Stadium last night.

Just 24 hours after thrashing King's Lynn, they expected a battle, and they weren't disappointed. But they were up for the job, took the lead in heat two and were never headed.

In a typical local derby which was delayed because of crowd queues, the riding was hard with elbows to the fore especially at the first bend. Had it been a soccer match, Oxford referee Mick Posselwhite would have run out of red cards.

The opening parade music was more like a lament - perhaps it was an omen for the home side - but the fireworks that followed only served to spark the visitors.

Cowley's new hero Jason Crump blasted clear in the opener and it was just a taste of things to come as Steve Schofield and Lawrence Hare held a 5-1 in the next, before coming in with a 4-2.

Paul Hurry was then at this best to pass Karger in heat nine with the scores at 25-29. However, a 4-2 and 5-1 before the break, gave Cheetahs the cushion they were looking for. Crump and Hurry settled for a 3-3 behind Nilsen in heat 13 and Cheetahs were home and dry and, with Crump finishing as he began, victory was secured.

Swindon: Nilsen 14+1, Adams 12, Masters 7, Karger 5, Gjedde 3+1, Rossiter 0. 41pts.

Oxford: Crump 14, Hurry 11, Boyce 11, Hare 6+2, Schofield 5+1, Staechmann 2+1. 49pts.

Heat 1: Crump, Nilsen, Gjedde, Staechmann 67.2 sec.

Heat 2: Schofield, Masters, Hare, Rossiter 68.8.

Heat 3: Adams, Boyce, Crump, Rossiter, Nilsen (exc tps) 67.5.

Heat 4: Hurry, Hare, Masters, Karger 68.3.

Heat 5: Adams, Crump, Gjedde, Staechmann 67.3.

Heat 6: Hurry, Nilsen, Gjedde, Schofield (e/f) 67.2.

Heat 7: Boyce, Karger, Hurry, Rossiter 67.2.

Heat 8: Masters, Hare, Staechmann, Gjedde (e/f) 68.3.

Heat 9: Adams, Hurry, Karger, Schofield 67.3.

Heat 10: Nilsen, Boyce, Hare, Gjedde 67.3.

Heat 11: Crump, Karger, Staechmann, Rossiter (f) 68.2.

Heat 12: Boyce, Schofield, Masters, Rossiter, Adams (ecx/tps) 69.1.

Heat 13: Nilsen, Crump, Hurry, Karger 67.2.

Heat 14: Adams, Nilsen, Boyce, Hare 67.8.

Heat 15: Crump, Nilsen, Hurry, Adams 67.6.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.