PETER Schroeck rued Oxford Cheetahs’ misfortune as they lost 53-37 at Glasgow Tigers.

The visitors endured a nightmare journey up to Scotland due to road closures, while Kyle Newman missed out through illness.

The bad luck continued as heat three was awarded to Glasgow’s Benjamin Basso despite debutant Aaron Summers appearing to take the verdict, before Josh MacDonald aggravated an ankle injury after falling in the penultimate race.

Schroeck confirmed the Australian is set to see a specialist in the coming days.

Nevertheless, there were some positives to take as Summers scored 8+1 in his first outing since September.

Oxford team manager Schroeck said: “It was an unbelievable performance by Aaron Summers. He hasn’t turned a wheel or dropped a clutch since he retired at the end of last season.

“It was all a bit last minute dot com, so by the time he got his bikes together, there was no chance for him to practice before he headed to Ashfield.

“Aaron definitely won his first ride back in heat three, even though the ref gave it to Benjamin Basso. The Glasgow team manager was very fair and admitted Aaron won it.

“But the ref would not consult the BSN cameras to check. In this day and age, I don’t think that’s right.

“We will put in a complaint. It wouldn't make any difference now to the score, but out of principle, we will do it.”

Schroeck added: “The journey up didn’t help – there were road closures all over the place with the M6 shut.

“Scott (Nicholls) and I stayed overnight in Stafford and left at 9am but didn’t get to Glasgow until around 6.40pm.

“Cam (Heeps) arrived just ten minutes before the start, already in his kevlars.”

Nicholls and Heeps drew first blood with a 4-2 in the opening race, but Glasgow responded with four successive heat advantages to take a 20-10 lead.

That included the controversy surrounding Basso and Summers, but the Cheetahs rider refocused impressively.

The Australian claimed 5-1s with Troy Batchelor and Heeps in heats seven and ten respectively as the visitors reduced the deficit to 33-27 with five to go.

But a 4-2 for Nicholls and Batchelor in race 13 was Cheetahs' only joy from then on as Glasgow ended up 16-point victors.

The visitors are eighth in the SGB Championship going into Wednesday's return fixture against the Scottish team at Oxford Stadium (7.30pm).

SCORERS

GLASGOW 53: Benjamin Basso 13, Tom Brennan 10, Broc Nicol 9+1, Ulrich Ostergaard 8+2, Danyon Hume 7+2, Craig Cook 4, Connor Bailey 2.

OXFORD 37: Scott Nicholls 11, Troy Batchelor 9, Aaron Summers 8+1, Dillon Ruml 5+1, Cameron Heeps 3, Josh MacDonald 1, Kyle Newman R/R.

Ch’ship points: Glasgow 3, Oxford 0.