OXFORD Spires defend an unbeaten run of three meetings when they take on the second-placed Belle Vue Aces tomorrow evening in a mouth-watering Premiership clash at Sandy Lane, writes Leon Foster-Hill.

Following the strong win away at Birmingham Brummies last week, Oxford retain that all-important fourth spot in the table. Things are starting to tighten up as the play-off race heats up, with just three league points separating second to fourth.

Oxford have also completed the most fixtures, 16 out of the 24 that need to be completed to agree the final four progressing to the play-offs in September.

Spires will be at full strength whilst the Aces have double trouble at reserve with Tate Zischke out with an injury, and Connor Bailey sitting out the rest of the season with health concerns.

Oxford then travel north to Belle Vue next Monday for the return fixture.

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  • Cheetahs get back on track

Oxford Cheetahs will get back in the groove this week when they make the journey south to Plymouth Gladiators on Saturday, before returning to Sandy Lane next Wednesday against the Berwick Bandits.

Adam Roynon is set to return, and the new averages will see Ashton Boughen and Luke Killeen swapping places at reserve.

It means that the strong pairing of Sam Masters and Cameron Heeps will return to numbers one and two, with Boughen partnering Jordan Jenkins at three and four.

Killeen in the reserve berth still offers good strength at the bottom end, and a positive Roynon could see the Cheetahs get their first win on the road this season.

Nico Covatti has been able to line up for the Gladiators after a nasty injury in the off-season and has made a solid start with 11 points against Edinburgh.

  • Chargers run out of juice

It was an afternoon to forget last Sunday, when Oxford Chargers lost three riders in an incident-packed clash against the Scunthorpe Stags, with the Stags running out easy winners.

Ashton Vale, Jody Scott and Jason Garrad all had falls which saw them retire early from the meeting.

It is a blow to the young septet who are eager to retain their title and team captain Killeen remained positive.

He said: “We have just got to try and win every match, get those bonus points, and hope that Leicester slip up.”

Leicester remain top of the National Development League with 13 points, however they have finished their home campaign and have four away meetings to go, including what may turn out to be the decider at Sandy Lane on August 25.

  • Speedway comes home

It may not have been for the England football team last weekend, however the GB Speedway Team are world champions having won the Speedway of Nations for the second time in three years at Belle Vue on Saturday night.

Robert Lambert and Dan Bewley brought home the gold medal in a stunning performance in front of a partisan home crowd.