OXFORD Cheetahs overturned a 12-point deficit to secure a place in the Knockout Cup semi-finals, thanks to a 54-36 victory at home to Glasgow Tigers.

It went down to the final race, with Cheetahs two points ahead on aggregate, and Scott Nicholls and Sam Masters streaked away for a 5-1.

While the duo both chipped in with 12+1, there were also positive displays from Henry Atkins and Jordan Jenkins (both 7+2), and Cameron Heeps (8), while Luke Killeen scored 8+3 from reserve.

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Cheetahs led by four points after seven races, but 5-1s from Atkins and Killeen in Heat 8, and Masters and Atkins in Heat 10, then pulled it level on aggregate.

Heat 12 saw Heeps repass Leon Flint to win the race, while Killeen also closed in to make it a tight finish. The 4-2 to Cheetahs saw them move into the lead on aggregate.

Two shared races followed, before the final race 5-1 ensured Cheetahs’ progression to the semi-finals.

Jenkins said: “We rode well as a team and it was a good confidence booster for us all to win on aggregate after being 12 points down from the first leg. Glasgow are a solid outfit, but we did the job.

“I’ve been tearing my hair out every night and every morning, wondering how I’d gone from the rider I was last year to what was happening this year, and apologies to everyone for me being so poor. But mechanically we identified a problem. We rectified it ready for Glasgow last Friday and I scored paid 16 across the two legs, which is much better.

“My first race got me going. I missed the start, but I felt I had the speed, made the moves stick and passed both the Glasgow riders to win the race.

“We’ve all had the odd good race this year, but we all came together and performed as a team, and the atmosphere in the pits was really good. We’ve got a good run of fixtures now and we just want to keep it going.”

Team manager Peter Schroeck added: “Despite the 12-point deficit from the first leg, I always felt we could do it. I retained faith in the boys and that paid off.

“It felt good. Glasgow are big hitters. They are the current league champions and they know how to win silverware. We put in a team performance and within that, several individuals stood up and showed what they’re all about.

“Glasgow didn’t have any heat advantages. We scored at least three points in every race and we never let them back in it, before Scott and Sam tied it up on aggregate in the final race.”