Conference League

OXFORD CHEETAHS 49

WEYMOUTH DOONAN WILDCATS 44

WILDCATS' Aussie sensation Jay Herne was in brilliant from as Weymouth came close to taking the Conference League points at Oxford last night.

Herne took seven rides and notched up a superb 17-point tally against the Cheetahs, including wins in his opening four outings.

Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett was singing his praises. "Jay was absolutely on top form, he was magnificent. He's been an important part of our team this season and he showed what a great rider he is."

Herne received excellent support from Lee Smart, who chipped in with paid 13. Smart had been due to miss the meeting, however the lunchtime postponement of the Birmingham versus King's Lynn Premier Trophy Final clash left him free to ride for the Wildcats.

New signing Mark Thompson - replacing injured skipper David Mason, who has broken two fingers - scored just paid five, and there were also slightly disappointing returns for captain Karl Mason (4), who was suffering from illness, and Terry Day (2).

The meeting did not get off to a great start for the Wildcats, although Herne won heat two by a street.

Oxford held a 23-13 lead after six races, and Weymouth team manager Jem Dicken nominated Smart as a tactical ride in heat seven. It worked a treat, with Smart winning the race and Day in third for a 7-2 to the Wildcats.

Back-to-back wins for Herne in heats eight and nine, backed with third places from Sam Hurst and Mason left the Wildcats just a point in arrears and suddenly it was all to play for.

Lee Smethills and Andrew Bargh took a 5-1 for the Cheetahs over Smart in heat 10. After a shared heat 11, Herne and Smart pegged back Jordan Frampton to take a 5-1 from heat 12, and again the Wildcats were just a point behind.

Heat 13 saw the clash of the big guns from each side - Smethills and Herne.

Smethills won the race to the first corner, then Danny 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 twice brought back after unsatisfactory first turns. Eventually Herne won from Brendan Johnson, with Day in third place.

The Wildcats needed a 4-2 or 5-1 from heat 15 to snatch victory, but instead it was the Cheetahs who finished with a flourish. Smethills led all the way, while Bargh forced his way under a tiring Herne - taking his fourth race in succession - in a 5-1 to the Cheetahs.

The return fixture takes place at the Wessex Stadium on Friday (7.15pm), where the Wildcats will be looking not only for the win, but also the aggregate bonus point.

Bartlett believes his side can do the job. "We've got a great chance of beating them at the Wessex, and we'll be looking to try and get that bonus point too.

"The boys did really well. We're disappointed to lose but nevertheless we'll pick ourselves up and get ready for Friday. The boys showed great spirit to get themselves back into it.

"I have to praise the lads who came in at short notice. It's just a shame we couldn't take that final heat to snatch the win."

Away team manager Dicken is confident that Nathan Irwin will be back fit for Friday's return meeting.

He said: "Nathan could be back as long as his recovery from last Friday's injury continues to go well."

SCORES AND HEAT DETAILS

OXFORD CHEETAHS

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 DOONAN WILDCATS

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

Ht 1: Bargh, Smethills, Thompson, Hurst, 63.27 (5-1)

Ht 2: Herne, Johnson, Newman, Hart, 63.89 (7-5)

Ht 3: Frampton, Smart, Blake, Day (f), 63.49 (11-7)

Ht 4: (re-run) Betson, Mason, Johnson, Newman (ret), 64.05 (15-9)

Ht 5: Frampton, Thompson, Hurst, Blake (ret), 63.55 (18-12)

Ht 6: Bargh, Smethills, Mason, Newman, 64.24 (23-13)

Ht 7: Smart (t/r), Betson, Day, Hart, 62.95 (25-20)

Ht 8: Herne, Bargh, Hurst, Johnson, 64.46 (27-24)

Ht 9: Herne, Frampton, Mason, Blake, 63.21 (29-28)

Ht 10: Smethills, Bargh, Smart, Day, 63.64 (34-29)

Ht 11: Betson, Hurst, Thompson, Johnson, 63.93 (37-32)

Ht 12: (re-run) Herne, Smart, Frampton, Johnson (ret), 63.58 (38-37)

Ht 13: Smethills, Herne, Betson, Thompson, 64.18 (42-39)

Ht 14: (re-run twice) Herne, Johnson, Day, Hart (ret), 65.05 (44-43)

Ht 15: Smethills, Bargh, Smart, Herne, 64.20 (49-44)

TODAY'S TABLE Conference league

M W D L W D L F A Pts AP Tot

Scunthorpe 5 2 0 0 3 0 0 289 163 10 1 11

Weymouth 8 5 0 1 0 0 2 392 341 10 1 11

Plymouth 7 3 0 1 1 0 2 339 291 8 1 9

Boston 5 3 0 0 1 0 1 233 223 8 1 9

Rye House 6 2 0 0 1 0 3 295 245 6 1 7

Buxton 5 2 0 0 1 0 2 203 251 6 0 6

Stoke 6 1 0 0 1 0 4 225 329 4 1 5

Oxford 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 116 67 4 0 4

Cleveland Bays 9 1 0 3 1 0 4 389 427 4 0 4

Sittingbourne 7 0 0 4 0 0 3 248 392 0 0 0