Ipswich team manager Paul Hurry insists Thursday is the night for the Tru7 Group Witches to fire as one when they head to Leicester for the Premiership Knockout Cup Final, second leg.
The teams are deadlocked at 45-45 after Monday’s first leg at Foxhall. While the Witches were unable to build an aggregate lead to take to the Hydroscand Arena, Hurry insists the first trophy of 2026 is still up for grabs.
Although his side was unable to find their best form and suffered a few mishaps at Foxhall, Hurry remains hopeful that the Witches can take the fight to the KO Cup holders on their own shale.
He said: “I just want the boys to go there, give it their all and enjoy riding their bikes. It’s a level playing field still. It’s one meeting. I just want them to give it everything and concentrate. I keep talking about them all clicking at the same time. Let’s hope they do it on Thursday!
“There were a few times on Monday when we were a bit unlucky. Richard Lawson dropped it when he was challenging to pass Drew Kemp in heat nine, which was a shame. Danny King got nudged out on the first turn and went down in heat eight, and the race wasn’t stopped.
“But what’s done is done. Monday is history. Let’s move on to the next one at Leicester. We are capable of so much more than we are giving at the moment.”
One rider who certainly delivered in the first leg was skipper King. Aside from his crash in heat eight, he won his other four heats to rack up 12 points.
Hurry was delighted with his display as he battles back from broken ribs. He said: “What can you say about Danny? He has come back from a nasty injury, and he has picked up where he left off before his accident. He’s not fully fit, but he is still out there winning races, and he gets on with it.
“Danny and Richard were in heat 15. They did the best job they could, and they got us the draw at the end of it.”
Fans unable to make it to Leicester can catch the Premiership Knockout Cup Final, second leg live on the British Speedway Network HERE.
STARTING LINE-UPS
LEICESTER LIONS: 1. Ryan Douglas, 2. Dan Thompson, 3. Nick Morris, 4. Kyle Howarth, 5. Sam Masters (captain), 6. Drew Kemp, 7. Joe Thompson.
IPSWICH TRU7 GROUP WITCHES: 1. Tom Brennan, 2. Danny King (captain), 3. Richard Lawson, 4. Scott Nicholls, 5. Tobiasz Musielak, 6. Kevin Juhl Pedersen, 7. Jason Edwards.