POOLE Pirates’ two-year unbeaten run at Wimborne Road came to a humbling end as they were beaten 49-41 by Oxford Cheetahs.

Not since a reverse against Leicester Lions in June 2022 had Pirates lost a competitive meeting on home shale, a streak of 42 matches.

But Oxford led for much of the evening and closed out the win, led by a sensational display from reserve Luke Killeen, totalling 11+3 from five rides.

Pirates skipper Ben Cook was the leading scorer on the evening, with a superb individual effort of 16+1, but struggles elsewhere left Poole beaten.

Poole stay top of the SGB Championship table, five points clear of both Oxford and Scunthorpe Scorpions.

Still without the injured Vinnie Foord, Pirates drafted in Aussie Jacob Hook to guest at reserve. Oxford also had a temporary rider at number seven, Paul Starke called in for fellow former Pirate Adam Roynon.

Poole got off to a good start. Briefly on a maximum, Richard Lawson claimed victory, with Sam Masters getting up ahead of Sam Hagon in second.

The lead then began to change hands. Starke and Killeen combined to win the reserves race, aided by Tobias Thomsen falling in the initial staging and being excluded.

Hook then fell on the re-run, before suffering from mechanical gremlins, but just about got round to take a point.

The hosts hit straight back, brothers Ben and Zach Cook easing to a 5-1 of their own.

The scores were levelled up at 12-12 in spectacular fashion. Aussie Killeen, 19, produced a huge shock to win heat four, winning a brilliant battle with Tom Brennan out in front, with seven-time British champion Scott Nicholls in third.

Two shared heats followed, won by Masters and Nicholls, before Oxford got their noses back in front. Jordan Jenkins took the race win ahead of Brennan, before Ashton Boughen snuck up to reel in Thomsen at the back.

The lead grew even further as Cameron Heeps and Killeen teamed up for a maximum in heat eight.

Ben Cook did well to fend off Nicholls in heat nine, before Oxford restored their six-point cushion with 16-year-old Boughen taking victory ahead of Lawson, who did well to get up to second past Jenkins.

Neil Middleditch instantly called for the tactical substitute, bringing Ben Cook in to heat 11 and he combined with Brennan for a maximum.

But that proved to be a false dawn. Following a big delay to repair an air fence after Hook had taken a heavy crash, Masters claimed victory in an enthralling power-packed heat 13, Brennan pushing all the way to the line. Nicholls overtook Lawson in the minor placings.

Cheetahs then sealed their memorable victory with a maximum in heat 14, courtesy of Jenkins and the impressive Killeen, before Ben Cook rounded off his night with a fourth race win.

Having drawn in the reverse fixture, Oxford also take the aggregate bonus point to add to their tally.

Pirates 41 (86): Lawson 7, Hagon 2+1, B Cook 16+1, Z Cook 5+2, Brennan 9, Thomsen 1, Hook 1.

Oxford 49 (94): Masters 10+1, Heeps 3, Boughen 5+1, Jenkins 8, Nicholls 9, Killeen 11+3, Starke 3.