Oxford Cheetahs 59,

Ipswich Witches 31

By John Gaisford

THE Oxford scholars remain top of the class as they gained the perfect mark of ten out of ten with this victory over a much depleted Ipswich in their Sky Sports Elite League clash at the Stadium last night.

Cheetahs notched their tenth win on the trot to put space between them and

the chasing pack, inflicting the heaviest defeat of the season on the Suffolk outfit.

The meeting also saw the emergence of youngster Andrew Appleton as he joined the rest of the boys in this easy romp.

On a brilliant summer's evening, the crowds again rolled up to see Todd Wiltshire and Brian Andersen geot the show on the road with an effortles exhibition.

And even though the Witches hit back through former Cheetahs Jason Bunyan and Craig Boyce, it was only a slight blip on the march to success.

Ales Dryml flew out soon to be joined by his teammate Leigh Adams as Cheetahs notched another maximum.

In heat five, Andersen and Steve Johnston got the worst end of some bunching, but there was no holding the 'Axe Man' Andersen as he scythed through both Ferjan and Hampel.

Andersen was straight out again and together with Wiltshire, who was strangely riding in grey leathers, team-rode to perfection to see of Boyce.

After six heats, Cheetahs were a dozen points to the good and the best was still to come.

Injury-hit Witches were suffering badly without England internationals Chris Louis and Scott Nicholls and this supposedly top-of-the-table clash turned out to a very tame affair.

Boyce and tactical sub Matty Ferjan stopped the rot in heat 9 to give the visitors their first heat advantage. But the response was immediate as Andersen and Wiltshire slapped in their third maximum of the night.

Then Appleton came of age when he joined Adams with yet another 5-1 as the youngster gathered his machine from the second bend and left international riders Ferjan and Hampel in his wake.

This brought the crowd to their feet and gave him his best ever Elite League tally of a paid ten points. The move to make him an Oxford asset with his intended full transfer from Newport, appears a wise move.

With a lead of 44-22, Cheetahs were nearly home and dry. Immediately after the break, Boyce and Doncaster held sway before Johnston got past the England veteran, to secure the points.

In heat 14 Appleton rode superbly to gain his first Elite outright victory to the delight of the crowd.

Adams and Wiltshire cleaned up in the last to give Cheetahs a hefty 28-point lead for the return.

Oxford: Adams 14, Wiltshire 11+4, Andersen 12+1, Johnston 8+1, Appleton 7+3, Dryml 7+1. 59 pts.

Ipswich: Boyce 11, Ferjan 9, Hampel 6+1, Bunyan 4, Doncaster 1, Clouting 0 31 pts. HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: Wiltshire, Andersen, Ferjan, Hampel. 60.4 secs.

Heat 2: Bunyan, Dryml, Appleton, Clouting. 61.5.

Heat 3: Boyce (r/r), Johnston, Wiltshire (r/r), Doncaster. 60.1.

Heat 4: (re-run) Adams, Dryml, Boyce, Clouting, Bunyan (exc /2 mins). 59.6.

Heat 5: Andersen (r/r), Ferjan, Hampel, Johnston. 61.2.

Heat 6: Andersen, Wiltshire, Boyce, Clouting. 61.5.

Heat 7: Hampel (t/s), Adams, Appleton, Doncaster. 60.6.

Heat 8: Dryml, Wiltshire, Hampel, Bunyan. 61.6.

Heat 9: Boyce, Johnston, Ferjan (t/s), Dryml. 61.4.

Heat 10: Andersen, Wiltshire, Hampel (r/r), Doncaster. 61.5.

Heat 11: Adams, Appleton, Ferjan, Hampel. 60.7.

Heat 12: Boyce (t/s), Johnston (r/r), Doncaster, Dryml. 62.1.

Heat 13: Adams, Ferjan, Andersen, Boyce. 60.7.

Heat 14: Appleton, Johnston, Bunyan, Doncaster. 62.4.

Heat 15: Adams, Ferjan, Wiltshire, Boyce. 60.9.