By Rob Binns
SCORECARD
IPSWICH 67: Jason Doyle 9+2, Danny King © 7+2, Adam Ellis 11, Tom Brennan 10+2 (Paid maximum), Emil Sayfutdinov 12 (Maximum), Dan Thompson 10+1, Jordan Jenkins (RS) 8+2. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
BELLE VUE 23: Brady Kurtz © 3, Norick Blödorn 2, Jaimon Lidsey 5, Zach Cook 1, Dan Bewley 7, Tate Zischke 2, Jake Mulford (RS) 3. Team Manager: Mark Lemon
REFEREE: P. Carrington
KNOCKOUT CUP DRAW
QUARTER-FINALS
First Leg:Birmingham 33-57 Leicester, King’s Lynn 53-37 Oxford, Belle Vue 40–50 Ipswich
Second Leg: Leicester 46-44 Birmingham, Oxford 37-53 King’s Lynn, Ipswich 67-23Belle Vue
THE REPORT
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches turned on the style to progress to the semi-final of the Knockout Cup after they beat the Belle Vue Aces on Thursday night at Foxhall.
Having been defeated by the Sheffield Tigers in the final last year, the Witches are determined to go one step further and win the competition for a second time in three years. They held a 10-point advantage from the first leg and maintained their superb form from Monday to grow the aggregate lead to 26 points after heat seven. Ipswich showed absolutely no signs of easing off in the second half of the meeting and cruised to a 67-23 victory on the night with another superb team performance with every rider scoring at least paid nine. Emil Sayfutdinov top scored with a 12-point maximum while Tom Brennan also wasn’t beaten by an opposition rider on his full Foxhall debut.
Ipswich opening pair Jason Doyle and Danny King got off to a flying start with the skipper taking the chequered flag and the Australian close behind for a 5-1 in heat one. Dan Thompson cruised to victory in heat two with Jordan Jenkins rounding Tate Zischke on the first lap for a heat advantage. Brennan then marked his full home debut with a win in heat three with Adam Ellis in third for another 4-2. Sayfutdinov opened his night with a win in heat four with Jenkins superbly holding off the challenge from Dan Bewley to secure a maximum and take the score on the night to 18-6.
Ellis and Brennan rode to another maximum in heat five before Belle Vue earned their first and only positive result of the evening in heat six as Doyle split Bewley and Zischke. Sayfutdinov and Thompson hit straight back in heat seven with Jaimon Lidsey passing the Ipswich reserve up the inside of the back straight to limit the damage to a 4-2. Jenkins took the win in heat eight with King battling with Jake Mulford on the line for second with a photo finish confirming another Witches maximum that put the hosts 34-14 in front.
Zischke slid into the air fence on the fourth bend in heat nine but was quickly back on the bike to avoid a re-run as Bewley split the Witches in a 4-2 to the hosts which mathematically secured Ipswich’s place in the semi-final. Doyle and King raced to their second maximum of the meeting in heat 10 which made sure of the victory on the night. Sayfutdinov earned his third win in heat 11 with Thompson in third for a heat advantage making the score 47-19 at the interval.
Ellis cruised to victory in heat 12 with Jenkins again defending superbly, this time from Zischke, to earn the sixth Ipswich 5-1 of the night. A seventh quickly followed as Doyle led from the gate in heat 13 with Sayfutdinov brilliantly passing both Aces in one move on the second bend and eventually overtook his teammate for the win and his maximum. Thompson and Brennan then made it three consecutive maximums in heat 14 which secured the new signing a paid maximum. Ellis and Thompson were selected by Ritchie Hawkins for heat 15 and rounded off the meeting in style with a ninth 5-1 which made the final score 67-23 on the night and 117-63 on aggregate.
RITCHIE HAWKINS REACTION
Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflects on Thursday’s win over Belle Vue and reaching the Knockout Cup semi-final.
“It couldn’t have gone any better, superb over both meetings this week. We’ve started the season super strong. We’ve set ourselves big expectations for the whole season now and big targets. There’s still improvement to be had in certain areas but overall, for a start to the season, it’s great!
“Belle Vue are the champions, and we know they’ve started the season slowly in other years and gone on to end the year as the champions. We managed to take advantage of that which pays testament to our preparation and our determination to get through straight from the off. The boys have put a lot of work in, and they weren’t rusty coming into the season. They’re a very gelled unit already from how much time we’ve rode together so that’s obviously given us a bonus going forward.
“Everybody has scored well and contributed, won races and what a delight to not say that we’re winning meetings, but a couple of riders are struggling a little bit. Every rider has more than done their part which makes my life very easy and long may that continue!
“Emil’s (Sayfutdinov) back and a maximum shows he’s looking as good as ever. Tom (Brennan) gets paid maximum on his official home debut for us, that’s going to be great for him going forward into the season. Jason (Doyle) was superb again on his first meeting back here. Obviously, Dan Thompson was superb, putting him in heat 15 I felt it was a race he could go and win because he looked that quick all night and he had the toughest gate but produced a superb first bend. Jordan’s progress from this time last year goes to show tonight, he had a tough first race but then didn’t drop a point in the next three. All of them 1-7 I can’t speak highly enough of them.”
RIDERS OF THE NIGHT
Sayfutdinov and Thompson were voted by fans online as the joint riders of the night. Sayfutdinov won all four of his races whilst Thompson hit 10+1 from reserve which earnt him a spot in heat 15.
WHAT IT MEANS
Ipswich progress to the semi-final of the Knockout Cup as they continue their bid to regain the title. Meanwhile, Belle Vue are eliminated at the first hurdle in the Knockout Cup for a third year in a row.
NEXT FIXTURE
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches travel to Oxford to take on the Spires on Thursday 3rd April in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership. Tickets must be purchased in advance here.