By Henry Chard
All the details ahead of our Premiership fixture with Sheffield.
WHEN & WHERE
The ‘Tru Mix’ Witches travel to South Yorkshire to face the Tigers at Owlerton on Monday 24th October in a Premiership fixture that starts at 7.30pm.
TEAMS
SHEFFIELD: 1. Jack Holder 8.61 2. Lewis Kerr 4.71 3. Adam Ellis 6.89 4. R/R for Kyle Howarth 5.42 © 5. Sam Masters (g) 7.91 6. Justin Sedgmen 4.44 7. Connor Mountain (RS). Team Manager: Simon Stead
IPSWICH: 1. Jason Doyle 10.32 2. Aaron Summers 4.91 3. Danny King 6.57 © 4. Erik Riss 6.00 5. Troy Batchelor 5.57 6. Lee Complin (g) 3.53 7. Anders Rowe (RS). Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
REFEREE: A. Steele
PREMIERSHIP TABLE
| Team | Meetings | Points |
| Sheffield | 19 | 43 |
| Ipswich | 19 | 43 |
| Belle Vue | 19 | 38 |
| Wolverhampton | 20 | 34 |
| King’s Lynn | 19 | 24 |
| Peterborough | 20 | 13 |
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased on the gate.
THE STORY
The ‘Tru Mix’ Witches complete their Premiership season on Monday evening as they travel to face Sheffield. With the play-offs already completed and Belle Vue having lifted the Premiership title, there is now nothing riding on this fixture despite both sides sitting level on points at the top of the table with one fixture remaining. The strange scenario, if nothing else, represents a chance for Ipswich to end their league campaign on a better note after their disappointing play-off semi-final defeat.
The Suffolk side welcome back Erik Riss to the team for the first time since his ankle injury in July. Rohan Tungate was signed as an injury replacement but now that the German is fit, he retakes his place in the line-up at number four. Number eight Danyon Hume is not fit enough to be in contention and is still recovering from his collarbone injury. Lee Complin guests for Paul Starke at number six who broke down en route to the fixture. The Witches were beaten by eight points on their visit to Owlerton earlier in the season in a meeting that was abandoned after 13 heats and will hope for a better result on this occasion and a full night of racing.
FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins gives us his pre-match thoughts…
“It is a dead rubber, but it is what it is. The fixtures need to be completed and the boys want a pay day before the winter. As a team we have got to approach it knowing the season didn’t finish well in the play-offs, so if we can finish the league campaign off with a win, finish top and then go on and win the Pairs competition then we can finish the season on a happier note.
“When Erik got injured and we had the situation with Ben (Barker) it really disrupted our season massively. He is back and is riding well now and we have put him back in the team with the view of him doing the Belle Vue round of the Pairs as well, so he will get a couple of run outs with us. He is somebody we would like to keep in the side next year as well if possible.”
THE TIGERS
Sheffield finished as runners-up in this year’s Premiership play-offs after being narrowly beaten by Belle Vue in the final over two legs. The Tigers do still have a chance of picking up some silverware in 2022 though and hold a healthy 12-point lead over King’s Lynn going into the home leg of their League Cup final.
The hosts are without Tobiasz Musielak and Kyle Howarth for this fixture, with Wolves’ Sam Masters guesting for Musielak and rider replacement in operation at number four for Howarth.
AWAY DAYS
An adult ticket costs £19, concessions £17, children (12-16) £6, children (under 12) £1 and children (under 5) go free. Official programmes cost £3. All the stadium is open except the back straight which remains closed for safety reasons. There is seating in the Panorama Room, which also boasts a restaurant and bar overlooking the track. There is a fast-food bar, and the Panorama Room Restaurant also offers a ‘Speedway Special’ carvery with a choice of meats. The Panorama Room Restaurant has large bar with ideal viewing facilities in addition to the carvery. Reserve your table now by calling Owlerton Stadium on 01142 343074. For travel information head here.
For more information about the club head to Sheffield’s official website.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway