OXFORD Cheetahs earned what could prove to be a crucial bonus point courtesy of a last race maximum as they slipped to a 51-39 defeat against Poole Pirates.
The Cheetahs held a 14-point lead from the meeting at Oxford Stadium in June, but found that wiped out in the first eight races as Pirates moved 32-16 ahead on the night and two ahead on aggregate.
However, a last heat 5-1 from Sam Masters and Scott Nicholls ensured Cheetahs won 91-89 on aggregate, with six points separating the Championship leaders from the second-placed Pirates.
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The Cheetahs fightback started in Heat 9 when Masters came into the race as a tactical substitute, and he and Nicholls took a 5-1 which put the side ahead on aggregate.
Pirates again edged in front in Heat 11 and secured victory on the night with a shared Heat 12, but Masters and Nicholls levelled with a 4-2 in Heat 13.
Cameron Heeps and Jordan Jenkins briefly led out of the tapes in Heat 14, before Zach Cook moved between them on the back straight.
Jenkins was under pressure from Anders Rowe when he fell on the third lap, as Poole took a 4-2.
Cheetahs required maximum points in the final race if they were to leave with a point, but did so thanks to Masters and Nicholls.
In Heat 15, Masters trapped while Nicholls fought his way around Ben Cook on the opening lap.
Cook then took a very tame-looking fall at the end of the second lap, to try to gain a second bite of the cherry for his teammate Richard Lawson, but the referee spotted Cook’s professional foul from a mile off and awarded the race as a 5-1 to Cheetahs.
Team manager Peter Schroeck said: “We’re disappointed not to get the win because we know we’re capable.
“I don’t believe we performed to the best of our ability, but that’s racing – you can’t have it your own way every week.
“We’ll regroup and come back stronger for next week’s trip to Edinburgh. Poole are one of the strongest teams in this division so to scoop the aggregate point and feel like we could’ve kept the scores closer on another night is a real positive.
“That’s only our second defeat in the league this season so we have every reason to remain upbeat and keep pushing with a view to ending the regular season at the top of the table.
“A massive thank you to all the supporters who made the journey south, your support does not go unnoticed and we were thrilled to see plenty of Cheetahs merchandise on the terraces.”
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