Oxford outgun Tigers
OXFORD secured a 48-42 win in the WSRA National League after a hard fought battle against the Middlesbrough “Heat Floors” Tigers powered by “STS” at Sandy Lane. Jody Scott (11+1) and Darryl Ritchings (10+2) both shone for Oxford whilst guest Cooper Rushen hit 12 for the Tigers.
After heat one was re-run after Scott came to grief on the opening bends, the Tigers looked set for a shared opener as Rushen led, until the youngster suffered an engine failure, which saw both Chargers take 1st and 2nd respectively and take a 5-1.
After a shared heat two won by Oxford reserve Senna Summers, the Tigers hit back with a 4-2 in heat three. Ace Pijper started his afternoon with a heat win, and with his brother Stene Pijper in 3rd, Middlesbrough were back within two points in the early stages.
However, heat four saw the hosts strike a 5-1 as Summers made it two wins from two, and with Darryl Ritchings passing Danny Phillips in the early stages, Oxford had grabbed the initiative on home shale.
Nevertheless, the Tigers showed no signs of backing down and they hit back in heat five with a 5-1 as Rushen recovered from his mechanical problems to notch his first win of the afternoon, and with Tom Spencer in 2nd, Middlesbrough were back within two of Oxford.
The initial staging of heat six saw Phillips excluded, leaving Ben Rathbone as the sole Tiger. The second staging saw Jody Scott and Jacob Clouting outgate Rathbone, and with the Tigers reserve unable to pass either Charger, Oxford’s six point lead was re-established.
After the Pijper brothers packed the minor placings in a heat seven won by Ritchings, Middlesbrough recorded their 3rd heat advantage in heat eight after Clouting was excluded from the original staging after crashing. The re-run saw Rushen win, and with Kai Ward 3rd, Middlesbrough were within striking distance of Oxford at 26-22.
However, Oxford’s six point lead was re-established as Ashton Vale won heat nine, but with Phillips passing Arran Butcher, the Middlesbrough skipper limited the damage to a 4-2.
The Chargers then began to pull away from the Tigers as Scott remained undefeated by a Tiger to win heat 10, and with Clouting 3rd, the hosts had a stranglehold on proceedings.
After the exceptional Rushen won a shared heat 11, the Tigers sent shockwaves through the Chargers camp with a heat 12 5-1 as Ace Pijper won, and with the fast improving Ward fending off Butcher for 2nd, Middlesbrough had reduced the arrears to 38-34.
However, heat 13 saw Oxford’s eight point lead restored as Scott won an awarded race as Spencer fell whilst 4th, and with Ritchings 2nd, the Chargers were on the verge of victory.
The penultimate race saw Oxford confirm victory in what looked set to be a shared race after Max Broadhurst fell and remounted at the back. However, as Ward shed a chain whilst in 3rd, Broadhurst claimed 3rd, and with Vale taking the win, Oxford had secured their 6th heat advantage and two WSRA National League points.
The final race saw Rushen racked up his 4th win of the afternoon, and with Ace Pijper second, Middlesbrough hit their 5th heat advantage, albeit in vain.
Oxford Chargers = 48
1. Jody Scott = 11+1
2. Jacob Clouting = 6+1
3. Arran Butcher = 2
4. Ashton Vale = 9
5. Darryl Ritchings = 10+2
6. Max Broadhurst = 2+1
7. Senna Summers = 8
Middlesbrough Tigers = 42
1. Tom Spencer = 3+1
2. Cooper Rushen (G) = 12
3. Ace Pijper = 12+1
4. Stene Pijper = 4+1
5. Danny Phillips = 4
6. Ben Rathbone = 2+1
7. Kai Ward = 5+1