Ipswich rising star Jason Edwards is determined to end 2026 on a high by firing the Tru7 Group Witches into the Rowe Motor Oil Premiership play-offs.
The Witches host Sheffield at Foxhall on Monday night, and fans can enjoy £5 off all tickets – including those purchased online and tickets bought at the gate on race day. The reigning champions then welcome league leaders Belle Vue to Suffolk on Thursday.
If Ipswich can triumph over the Tigers and take the aggregate bonus point by overturning a 51-39 loss from the first leg at Owlerton on July 23, this would all but secure a top-four finish, with only one more point needed to guarantee this.
Despite being without Witches legend Scott Nicholls due to a broken collarbone, the hosts track former Ipswich favourite Adam Ellis as a guest at No.2 against Sheffield.
Edwards scored a useful five points in Witches’ 47-43 loss at Northampton last Thursday and hopes to play his part in earning his side a chance to defend their 2025 Rowe Motor Oil Premiership crown.
He’s determined to build on a solid showing against the Foxes in two vital home fixtures. He said: “It was nice to break my run of one point here and there. I am quite happy.
“The problem is it all goes really well and then you have one or two bad meetings, and it can quickly snowball. I’m hoping I am getting out of that.
“Even at my Championship club Redcar, I have been chucked in at No.5 now, so everything has got a little bit harder, which is what I need because you have to try and step up at some point.
“It would be nice to end the year on a high, especially in the play-offs when the meetings really matter, so that’s the plan.”
If the Witches take maximum points against the Tigers, they will leapfrog them for third place, which would see them avoid title favourites Belle Vue in the play-off semi-finals if they can hold on to that position.
But Edwards isn’t worried about who his side faces in the race for the Grand Final. He said: “I would just be happy if we can get in and get another two meetings. The way the play-offs work, anything can happen. It all starts from zero. The first time we went to Belle Vue this season, they needed a tactical substitute in heat seven, so who knows what could happen?”
Edwards also looks forward to racing two home meetings in quick succession as his side prepares for the business end of the season. The Essex-based star said: “It will be nice to do two meetings in one week at the same place, especially when it’s not miles and miles away from home for me. That always helps.”
Fans can purchase Tigers tickets HERE at £20 for adults and £18 for concessions (fans aged 65 plus and students aged 21 and under), with Young Person tickets for those aged 16-18 priced at £10.
For those fans unable to make it to Foxhall, they can also enjoy both matches against Sheffield and Belle Vue live on WitchesTV HERE.
STARTING LINE-UPS
IPSWICH TRU7 GROUP WITCHES: 1. Richard Lawson, 2. Adam Ellis (guest), 3. Danny King (captain), 4. Tom Brennan, 5. Tobiasz Musielak, 6. Kevin Juhl Pedersen, 7. Jason Edwards.
SHEFFIELD TIGERS: 1. Rider Replacement – Jack Holder, 2. Anders Rowe, 3. Chris Holder, 4. Leon Flint, 5. Josh Pickering (captain), 6. Jye Etheridge, 7. Luke Killeen.