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Post by Genghis on Jul 15, 2007 12:07:41 GMT
Looks like another potential cracker in store.
Even having suffered a couple of injuries on Friday (David Mason and Nathan Irwin), Weymouth still look formidable oppostion with Mark Thompson making his debut in place of Mason, and flying Aussie Jay Herne at reserve.
The early postponement at Newport helps out Oxford as it frees up Andrew Bargh to ride for the Cheetahs.
With Sam Martin (riding at Mildenhall) and Kyle Hughes (injured) both out, grade 1 rider Jerran Hart makes an appearance for the Cheetahs.
The Peasley prediction: Oxford 50 Weymouth 43.
All the best
Rob
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Post by admin on Jul 15, 2007 22:29:09 GMT
And you weren't very far away, young fellow.
I guess this is the third meeting into the latest "new era" at Oxford. How are things going? Are the crowds okay?
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Post by Genghis on Jul 16, 2007 2:23:27 GMT
Sunday, July 15, 2007
OXFORD CHEETAHS 49 WEYMOUTH WILDCATS 44
(Conference League)
For the second week in succession, speedway fans were treated to top notch action at Sandy Lane, as the Oxford Cheetahs overcame the high-flying Weymouth Wildcats in a final-race decider.
Before the meeting commenced, talented 15-year-old Brendan Johnson signed on a contract to ride for the Cheetahs for the rest of the season on the centre green.
The Cheetahs got off to a cracking start in Heat 1, with Andrew Bargh winning the race, while Lee Smethills muscled underneath Mark Thompson on the fourth bend to join Bargh for a 5-1.
Wildcats Aussie sensation Jay Herne was a convincing winner of Heat 2 ahead of Brendan Johnson, while Weymouth’s Kyle Newman just held off Oxford’s Jerran Hart in a close finish for third place.
Jordan Frampton held off pressure from Lee Smart to win Heat 3, while Dan Blake took third after Terry Day fell on the opening lap.
Danny Betson won Heat 4, with Karl Mason overhauling Brendan Johnson for second place in a 4-2 to Oxford, then Frampton won a shared Heat 5.
Heat 6 saw a 5-1 to the Cheetahs. Bargh & Smethills gated, but Mason went steaming around Smethills after a lap. Smethills recovered by blasting inside Mason on the back straight of lap 2. With Bargh’s bike faltering, Smethills produced a superb ride to settle behind Bargh and block Mason.
Ten points in arrears, Weymouth manager Jem Dicken nominated Lee Smart as a tactical ride in Heat 7. Betson gated, but Smart flew under him on the second bend, and with Day in third place, the Wildcats took a 7-2.
Herne & Hurst outgated Bargh in Heat 8, with Bargh then steaming around Hurst on the fourth bend. Bargh closed in on Herne, but couldn’t find a way through.
Herne was out again in Heat 9 and produced another electric start to beat Frampton as the Wildcats reduced the deficit to just one point.
Smethills & Bargh took their third 5-1 of the evening in Heat 10, with Bargh keeping third-placed Smart at bay.
Betson won Heat 11 for the Cheetahs, but a 5-1 from Herne & Smart over Frampton in Heat 12 pegged Oxford's lead back to a point.
Heat 13 saw the clash of the two unbeaten riders - Smethills and Herne. Smethills won the race to the first corner, then Betson pushed inside Herne on the second bend. Herne flew back around Betson on the fourth bend, then reeled in Smethills, but Smethills held on to win from Herne by less than a bike length.
Heat 14 was pivotal, and twice had to be brought back after unsatisfactory first turns. At the first attempt, Hart gated but Herne fell, then Hart & Day clashed in the re-run and Hart fell. Referee Dave Robinson brought all four back on both occasions, and at the third time of asking, Herne streaked away for the win, while Johnson got around Day on the second bend for a priceless second place, to keep Oxford a point in front going into the final heat.
In Heat 15, Smethills brought his experience to bear, to lead all the way. Herne was in second place early on, but Bargh came under him on lap 2 in a no nonsense move, to leave Oxford's final margin of victory at 5 points.
The return fixture between the two sides takes place at Weymouth's Wessex Stadium on Friday.
OXFORD CHEETAHS 49
Lee Smethills 2* 2* 3 3 3 (13+2)
Andrew Bargh 3 3 2 2* 2* (12+2)
Jordan Frampton 3 3 2 1 (9)
Dan Blake 1 R 0 (1)
Danny Betson 3 2 3 1 (9)
Jerran Hart 0 0 R (0)
Brendan Johnson 2 1 0 0 R 2 (5)
Team manager: Peter Oakes
WEYMOUTH WILDCATS 44
Mark Thompson 1 2 1* 0 (4+1)
Sam Hurst 0 1* 1 2 (4+1)
Lee Smart 2 6! 1 2* 1 (12+1)
Terry Day F 1 0 1 (2)
Karl Mason 2 1 1 (4)
Jay Herne 3 3 3 3 2 3 0 (17)
Kyle Newman 1 R 0 (1)
Team manager: Jem Dicken
Referee: Dave Robinson
! = tactical ride
HEAT DETAILS:
1: Bargh (O), Smethills (O), Thompson (W), Hurst (W), 63.27 (5-1)
2: Herne (W), Johnson (O), Newman (W), Hart (O), 63.89 (7-5)
3: Frampton (O), Smart (W), Blake (O), Day (W) (fell), 63.49 (11-7)
4: (Re-run) Betson (O), Mason (W), Johnson (O), Newman (W) (ret), 64.05 (15-9)
5: Frampton (O), Thompson (W), Hurst (W), Blake (O) (ret), 63.55 (18-12)
6: Bargh (O), Smethills (O), Mason (W), Newman (W), 64.24 (23-13)
7: Smart (W) (tactical ride), Betson (O), Day (W), Hart (O), 62.95 (25-20)
8: Herne (W), Bargh (O), Hurst (W), Johnson (O), 64.46 (27-24)
9: Herne (W), Frampton (O), Mason (W), Blake (O), 63.21 (29-28)
10: Smethills (O), Bargh (O), Smart (W), Day (W), 63.64 (34-29)
11: Betson (O), Hurst (W), Thompson (W), Johnson (O), 63.93 (37-32)
12: (Re-run) Herne (W), Smart (W), Frampton (O), Johnson (O) (ret), 63.58 (38-37)
13: Smethills (O), Herne (W), Betson (O), Thompson (W), 64.18 (42-39)
14: (Re-run twice) Herne (W), Johnson (O), Day (W), Hart (O) (ret), 65.05 (44-43)
15: Smethills (O), Bargh (O), Smart (W), Herne (W), 64.20 (49-44)
All the best
Rob
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Post by Genghis on Jul 16, 2007 2:24:36 GMT
Lee Smethills was a deserving winner of the Linda De Boise Memorial Trophy, after being selected as Rider Of The Night for last night's cracking 49-44 win over the Weymouth Wildcats.
Oxford skipper Smethills produced an inspirational performance against the Wildcats, scoring a paid maximum, twice coming from the back in Heats 1 & 6, and twice defeating Weymouth's Aussie hotshot Jay Herne in the closing stages.
Smethills was selected by long-standing Oxford fan, Richard "Tubby" Tyrrell.
All the best
Rob
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2007 8:05:26 GMT
What kind of crowds is CL racing attracting ? And is it still Oxford's intention to run in the PL next year Rob ?
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Post by Genghis on Jul 16, 2007 16:28:22 GMT
What kind of crowds is CL racing attracting ? And is it still Oxford's intention to run in the PL next year Rob ? My guestimates are: 450-500 against Buxton, 550-650 against Plymouth and back to 450-500 yesterday. Not great, but still above our final EL crowd!! I think CL is sustainable on those crowds, accordingly to Allen Trump we need around 700-750 to break even at PL level. It's going to take time to get the crowds back - a lot of people were driven away, we need to tempt them back. The weather didn't help yesterday, there was rain everywhere but the mile around the stadium, so a lot of people who have assumed (incorrectly) it was going to be off. And the switch back to Fridays in a few weeks time will help. And some don't come simply because it's Conference League, despite the fact we've had more entertainment in the last two weeks than you would get in a year of the fucking Elite League. Hopefully by the end of the year, we'll be up to 700. All the best Rob |
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