Oxford Cheetahs 42, Peterborough Panthers 47

Young Swedish rider Eric Andersson won his first Elite races in a Cheetahs jacket, but their losing run continues despite a much-improved performance against Peterborough at Oxford Stadium.

World champion Tony Rickardsson didn't quite live up to his pre-meeting promise to promoter Aaron Lanney that he would win every race, but Lanney said: "It was a much better display tonight.

"I was so pleased for Eric Andersson, he is going to be a master stroke for us when he can drop down to reserve.

"I thought I had got Australian rider Cameron Woodward on the dotted line, but he was going to come on an assessed average, so that has fallen through."

Cheetahs' ill luck continued as Adam Skornicki crashed out after looking good in heat three and then failed to get off the grid two heats later, but he came back strongly to beat Niels Kristian Iversen in heat 14.

In fact, every rider played a part with the exception of Adam Pietraszko, who is surely living on borrowed time.

Oxford soon went behind before Rickardsson conjured a great run after missing the start in heat four as he reeled in both Ryan Sullivan and Ulrich Ostergaard.

Andersson opened his winning account in heat seven following some fine team riding with skipper David Howe for a handy 5-1.

Heat eight proved rather eventful with first Ostergaard bringing down Andersson, who was in the lead at the time. Then in the re-run, Bajerski was looking good for second spot, but just before the line he pulled an almighty wheelie that sent him crashing to the track.

There was some debate as to whether he was in contact with his bike over the line, but referee Robbie Perks awarded him third spot as Andersson and Tomicek gained the maximum to give Cheetahs the lead.

The Panthers, with Anderson and Jesper Jensen in commanding form, edged ahead with three straight victories to see them 38-33 up at the break.

Rickardsson again failed to make his mark in heat 13 as Anderson proved too good, and despite Skornicki taking the penultimate heat, it was all over, leaving Cheetahs still looking for their first victory.

Oxford: Rickardsson 13, Howe 7+1, Andersson 7+1, Watt 6+1, Skornicki 5, Tomicek 4+1, Pietraszko 0. 42pts.

Peterborough: Anderson 14, Jensen 10, Iversen 8, Ostergaard 7, Sullivan 6, Bajerski 1, Hall 1. 47pts.