Oxford v Cleveland, Friday, August 17

[Genghis]

Yes, it's the long awaited return of Buzz Burrows to Oxford.

Cleveland may be struggling, but with Buzz in their side, there's bound to be some entertainment.

Buzz scored a brilliant 20 points at Oxford for Wimbledon in 2003, when he took on the home side almost side-handed, and produced some terrific speedway.

His 2005 visit turned out differently, and this highly controversial match is still hotly debated between Oxford and Wimbledon fans even two years later.

But one thing is for certain... with Mr. Burrows in town, it won't be dull!!

Oxford are again admitting children under 12 free of charge, when accompanied by a paying adult.

All the best
Rob

[Genghis]

Friday, August 17, 2007
OXFORD CHEETAHS 70 CLEVELAND BAYS 18
(Conference League)

Five days after mauling Sittingbourne, the Oxford Cheetahs were at it again - this time with an even bigger win over the Cleveland Bays.

And whereas the 71-21 win over the Crusaders equalled a club record for size of victory in league competition, this 52-point win set a new marker.

It was a night where records fell - with Danny Betson setting a new Conference League track record time of 60.72 in Heat 5.

Betson, Lee Smethills and Sam Martin all recorded paid maximums - and Betson has now completed 16 races for the Cheetahs since he was last beaten by an opposing rider.

The Cheetahs dropped just five points all night:
* Heat 1 - when Kyle Hughes was beaten by Mark "Buzz" Burrows, but only after a ding-dong opening lap battle between the pair.
* Heat 7 - when Matt Bates fell on the second bend trying to overhaul second placed David Wallinger.
* Heat 8 - when Brendan Johnson fell and remounted on the opening turns, although he picked up a point by chasing down and passing Ben Reade, who had a sick motor.
* Heat 14 - when Bates lost out to Rusty Hodgson in a photo-finish on the line for second place after a humdinger of a battle.

Other than that, the Cheetahs picked up ten 5-1s and one 5-0 from Heat 2, thanks to a peculiar decision from referee Ronnie Allan. Ben Hannon was the early leader of the race, but he looked a little unsteady and both Oxford reserves, Johnson and Bates, soon picked him off. Hannon continued to make mistakes, and he drifted wide off the final corner, bringing down both himself and the following Reade. Referee Allan excluded Hannon, but failed to award the third placed-point to Reade, which seemed to be an odd decision, to say the least.

Hannon's shoulder was dislocated in the accident, and although the medical staff popped it back into place for him, it was no surprise when he withdrew from the rest of the meeting.

Despite the gulf between the two teams in terms of scoreline, there was some good racing sprinkled throughout the meeting. Johnson pushed inside Wallinger to gain second place in Heat 4, Martin produced a determined opening lap in Heat 5 to put paid to Burrows's tactical ride, Hughes flew under Wallinger after a lap in Heat 6, Hughes also swept under Burnett in Heat 8, and Bates battled past Burnett early in Heat 11.

The race of the night, however, had to be the aforementioned Heat 14, with Hodgson under attack for the whole four laps from Bates. On the final bends, Bates finally surged through on the inside, only for Hodgson to keep it wound on and snatch the verdict by a matter of inches.

It was the fastest-ever Conference League meeting at Oxford, with nine races completed in less than 62 seconds.

Jake Carter, celebrating his 12th birthday, presented the Linda De Boise Memorial Trophy rider of the night, which was awarded to the entire Cheetahs team, on a night they set a record win that will take some beating.

A collection for the injured Andrew Bargh and Jordan Frampton, who has suffered three seized engines since the start of August, raised a total of £446.50.

OXFORD CHEETAHS 70
Lee Smethills 3 3 3 3 2* 3 (17+1)
Kyle Hughes 1 3 2* 3 2* (11+2)
Rider replacement - Jordan Frampton
Sam Martin 2* 2* 2* 3 3 (12+3)
Danny Betson 3 3 3 3 3 2* (17+1)
Matt Bates 2* FX 2* 1 (5+2)
Brendan Johnson 3 2* 1 2* (8+2)
Matt Davis (No. 8) DNR
Team manager: Peter Oakes

CLEVELAND BAYS 18
Mark Burrows 2 1! 1 MX 1 (5)
Paul Burnett 0 0 2 1 1 0 (4)
Rider replacement - Greg Blair
Rusty Hodgson 1 R 0 2 (3)
David Wallinger 1 1 2 1 0# 0 1 (6)
Ben Reade F 0 0 R 0 0 0 (0)
Ben Hannon FX (0)
Chris Baldwin (No. 8) 0 (0)
Team manager: Jason Pipe
Referee: Ronnie Allan

! = tactical ride
# = tactical substitute from 15m

HEAT DETAILS:
1: Smethills (O), Burrows (C), Hughes (O), Burnett (C), 61.38 (4-2).
2: Johnson (O), Bates (O), Reade (C) (fell), Hannon (C) (fell, excluded), 63.74 (9-2).
3: Hughes (O), Martin (O), Hodgson (C), Baldwin (C), 62.96 (14-3).
4: Betson (O), Johnson (O), Wallinger (C), Reade (C), 61.77 (19-4).
5: Betson (O), Martin (O), Burrows (C) (tactical ride), Burnett (C), 60.72 (CL track record) (24-5).
6: Smethills (O), Hughes (O), Wallinger (C), Reade (C), 62.68 (29-6).
7: (Re-run) Betson (O), Wallinger (C), Hodgson (C) (ret), Bates (O) (fell, excluded), 61.24 (32-8).
8: Hughes (O), Burnett (C), Johnson (O) (fell, remounted), Reade (C) (ret), 62.41 (36-10).
9: Smethills (O), Martin (O), Wallinger (C) (15m penalty for exceeding two minutes), Reade (C), 61.97 (41-11).
10: Smethills (O), Hughes (O), Burrows (C), Hodgson (C), 61.75 (46-12).
11: Betson (O), Bates (O), Burnett (C), Reade (C), Burrows (C) (excluded, two minutes), 61.15 (51-13).
12: Martin (O), Johnson (O), Burnett (C), Wallinger (C) (t/s - from 15m), 61.34 (56-14).
13: Betson (O), Smethills (O), Burrows (C), Wallinger (C), 61.44 (61-15).
14: Martin (O), Hodgson (C), Bates (O), Reade (C), 63.06 (65-17).
15: Smethills (O), Betson (O), Wallinger (C), Burnett (C), 62.45 (70-18).

REPORT: ROB PEASLEY

[Deleted]

Rob, not a criticism, unlike on the BSF, but why wasn't Matt given a chance of a ride bearing in mind the one sidedness of the meeting? Would have been a perfect opportunity I'd have thought?

[Genghis]

lw said:

Rob, not a criticism, unlike on the BSF, but why wasn't Matt given a chance of a ride bearing in mind the one sidedness of the meeting? Would have been a perfect opportunity I'd have thought?

LW,

I think the second half races Matt had last night were of much more benefit to him.

Cleveland gave their No.8, Chris Baldwin, a ride in Heat 3 and it was dangerous, as he was nearly lapped and had two Oxford riders rapidly approaching him as they completed the race.

The track was riding fast last night, had a good amount of grip, and some of the lesser experienced riders were struggling. Given that the top riders were whipping around in 61 seconds, it wouldn't have been the ideal environment for Matt, who is a first season racer.

Matt is improving every week, won his first race last week in a time of 71.99 seconds, and will no doubt get an opportunity when ready.

He looked highly delighted just to have to No. 8 racejacekt on his back last night.

Also, Oxford were chasing a record win last night, which they eventually got. It gave some sort of purpose to a meeting that was otherwise a runaway win.

All the best
Rob

[Deleted]

First time at a cl match and really enjoyed it will no doubt we will go again .


Always good to see oxford trash the other team with any luck we may be able to get a 75 -15 soon that would be great .

[Deleted]

Thanks Rob, can't pick any faults in that explanation!

[Deleted]

genghis said:

It was the fastest-ever Conference League meeting at Oxford, with nine races completed in less than 62 seconds.

Jeez, that is going some - but you have to question the value for money aspect here, seeing as you must have been headed home by twenty to eight at that rate!!!