Ipswich boss Paul Hurry was delighted to see the Tru7 Group Witches rewarded for sticking by their riders as they snatched maximum points in a Foxhall thriller against Sheffield on Thursday.
The Witches won 52-38, racing to back-to-back 5-1s in the last two heats to tie with the Tigers 90-90 on aggregate.
Local legend Scott Nicholls and No.1 Tom Brennan have endured indifferent starts to the season. But they joined forces for a huge 5-1 in heat 15 to force a super heat for the aggregate bonus point. The pair then kept 2012 Speedway GP world champion Chris Holder at the back to win the decider 5-4 and send Foxhall wild.
Nicholls led the Witches scoring on 12 paid 14 points, while Brennan went unbeaten by an opponent in his final three rides ahead of the super heat to end on nine paid 10.
The Witches were also lifted by a 12-point, four-ride maximum from skipper Danny King, who braved the pain of rib injuries suffered at King’s Lynn on July 2 to make a triumphant return.
Team manager Hurry was elated with his side and pleased he kept faith with Nicholls and Brennan through recent dips in form. He said: “That’s why we have Scott in the team. That’s what he’s capable of doing. He’s a class act.
“We have seen Tom so frustrated. But his mechanics have stuck with him and just been there for him. They want the best for him. Martin Dugard (his stepfather) was with him as well.
“Tom has been in contact with me a little bit more. He said to me before the weekend, ‘I think I have found something. I am going to try it on Thursday.’ He has done it. It’s not my place to say what it is, but he has changed something on his bike, and it has brought the Tom Brennan that we all know back.
“People don’t become bad riders overnight, and you stick with them. When you drop them and they regain their form, other teams benefit from that.”
Hurry was also pleased with a maximum from captain King on his Witches return after two weeks on the sidelines.
He said: “If anyone has broken ribs, they will know exactly how he feels. It’s the front ones, not the back ones. When you breathe, it’s painful. Your body goes into protection mode, and it makes it hard to breathe.
“Fair play to him for going out and doing that – I didn’t expect it. When he was riding, he was having to ride on the fence in the grip. It was a hell of an effort from him. I couldn’t be happier for him really.”
Hurry was more than happy with a solid team display, adding: “Tobi (Musielak) and Richard (Lawson) got stuck in too. At some point, people have an off-night, and when you do, the others have to step up. Those are the ingredients you need to have a winning team.
“When Tobi and Richard didn’t have their best nights, Danny, Scott and Tom stepped up. We also had Jason (Edwards) and (guest) Will (Cairns) doing what they did at reserve. It was a great effort, and it was great to see Will slotting in and enjoying himself. Jason was out there doing what Jason does too.”
The Witches return to Sheffield for their second Rowe Motor Oil Premiership visit of the season next Thursday.
The first silverware of 2026 is then on the line when Leicester visits in the Premiership Knockout Cup Final, first leg on Monday, July 27, with advance tickets available online HERE.
FINAL SCORES
IPSWICH TRU7 GROUP WITCHES 52: 1. Tom Brennan 9+1, 2. Danny King 12, 3. Richard Lawson 5, 4. Scott Nicholls 12+2, 5. Tobiasz Musielak 6, 6. Will Cairns 5+1, 7. Jason Edwards 3+1.
SHEFFIELD TIGERS 38: 1. Nicolai Klindt 2+1, 2. Anders Rowe 7, 3. Chris Holder 6, 4. Leon Flint 5, 5. Josh Pickering 11+1, 6. Jye Etheridge 4, 7. Luke Killeen 3+1.