Workington Comets reserve rider Jacob Hook put in a steady performance for Oxford last night.
Riding as a guest for the Cheetahs at number two for the suspended Francis Gusts he scored four and three bonus points.
His four rides included a second and two thirds as the Cheetahs fought hard before losing 46-43 to reigning champions Poole Pirates.
Poole completed their regular Cab Direct Championship programme to end their schedule on 31 points.
The Pirates are four points ahead of Glasgow who still have three matches remaining in the race to finish top ahead of the play-offs.
The meeting at BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium went down to a last heat decider after Oxford fought back from seven points down to go one ahead with a 5-1 from Sam Masters and Cameron Heeps in Heat 13.
But Pirates reserve Paul Starke, who rode for Workington last year, combined with skipper Zach Cook for a 5-1 in Heat 14 to put the visitors back ahead, and whilst Masters won Heat 15, Heeps was this time kept at the back by Richard Lawson and Cook.
Another ex-Comet, Lawson (12) and Cook (10+2) both reached double figures and Starke contributed a crucial 8+2, whilst Masters racked up 15+2 from six rides for the Cheetahs.
Starke said: “For me it was one of those nights, being on the floor twice, and suffering a breakdown.
“But we knew we needed to try and relieve the pressure for Heat 15, and we gave ourselves a chance and the boys went and did it in the end.
“I knew in 14 that we had to do something, so I just sent it. I had the confidence because Zach was there, so it was just a matter of holding on and we got there in the end, and I’m happy.”
