OXFORD Cheetahs bowed out of the Knockout Cup after losing a last-heat decider at Redcar Bears.

Scott Nicholls and Troy Batchelor needed a 5-1 in the final race to tie the aggregate scores in the second leg of the first round tie.

But the experienced pair went down by that margin to Charles Wright and Lewis Kerr as Redcar secured a 51-39 victory that puts them into the last eight.

The hosts triumphed 94-86 on aggregate after Cheetahs edged the first leg 47-43 at Oxford Stadium 48 hours earlier.

Nicholls and Batchelor topped the charts for the visitors, scoring 8+2 and 8+1 respectively.

Wright (13) and Kerr (11+1) starred for Redcar, while reserve Jordan Jenkins carded nine to help them over the line.

Cheetahs are next in action next Saturday when they travel to Leicester Lions in the SGB Championship.

SCORERS

REDCAR 51: Charles Wright 13, Lewis Kerr 11+1, Jordan Jenkins 9, Erik Riss 8, Kasper Andersen 5, Adam Roynon 3+2, Jason Edwards 2+1.

OXFORD 39: Scott Nicholls 8+2, Troy Batchelor 8+1, Kyle Newman 7+1, Jack Thomas 7, Cameron Heeps 5+1, Nathan Stoneman 3, Dillon Ruml 1.

Redcar win 94-86 on aggregate.