OXFORD Cheetahs could not keep pace with SGB Championship leaders Leicester Lions as they went down 55-35 on the road.

Scott Nicholls and Dillon Ruml won the first two heats to raise the visitors’ hopes, but their opponents gradually pulled away to return to the top of the table.

Josh Macdonald’s nightmare start to his Cheetahs career continued as his return from injury ending after his first ride in race two.

It added another challenge to a tough evening and Leicester secured victory with three heats remaining.

Kyle Newman and Troy Batchelor, who top-scored for the visitors with 11 points, took Cheetahs’ other two race wins.

Nicholls chipped in with nine, but Leicester’s Nick Morris picked up a 12-point maximum and Richie Worrall collected 13 from five rides.

It leaves Cheetahs eighth in the Championship ahead of a busy week.

They travel to Devon tomorrow to face Plymouth Gladiators, before taking on Redcar Bears at Oxford Stadium on Wednesday.

It was a better weekend for Oxford Chargers, who won 48-42 at Armadale Devils in the National Development League.

Heat leaders Jordan Jenkins and Nathan Stoneman starred against the basement boys, scoring full and paid maximums respectively to help clinch victory.

The development team’s second win in 48 hours leaves them only behind Berwick Bullets at the top of the table.

Chargers were 31-29 ahead with five heats left and the momentum shifted as the sides traded 5-1s in the remaining races.

Jenkins and Stoneman partnered up to make it 42-36 with two to go, only for Armadale to slash the deficit to 43-41.

But the Chargers duo held their nerve in race 15, as the skipper led his teammate home to end a successful evening.

Chargers’ next meeting is on Wednesday, June 1, at home to Plymouth Centurions.

SCORERS

DEVILS V CHARGERS

ARMADALE 42: Tom Woolley 12, Gregor Millar 9+3, Josh Embleton 6+1, William Lawson 6+1, Danny Phillips 6, Lewis Millar 3+2, George Rothery r/r.

OXFORD 48: Jordan Jenkins 15, Nathan Stoneman 13+2, Ace Pijper 7+2, Jacob Clouting 6, Arran Butcher 3, Sam Woods 3, Ben Hopwood 1+1.

NDL points: Armadale 0, Oxford 3.

LIONS V CHEETAHS

LEICESTER 55: Richie Worrall 13, Nick Morris 12, Kyle Howarth 9, Dan Thompson 6+2, Connor Mountain 6+1, Joe Thompson 5+3, Anders Rowe 4.

OXFORD 35: Troy Batchelor 11, Scott Nicholls 9+1 Cameron Heeps 6, Dillon Ruml 5+1, Kyle Newman 4+1, Jack Thomas 0, Josh Macdonald 0.

Championship points: Leicester 3, Oxford 0.