By Henry Chard
MEETING SPONSORS
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THE SCORES
IPSWICH 45: Jason Doyle R/R, Adam Ellis 4+2, Keynan Rew 14, Tom Brennan (G) 9+2, Danny King © 9, James Pearson (G) 0, Dan Thompson (RS) 9+1. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
SHEFFIELD 45: Jack Holder 8+2, Kyle Howarth © 9+1, Chris Holder 11, Josh Pickering 14+2, Tai Woffinden R/R, Jason Edwards 2, Dan Gilkes (RS) 0. Team Manager: Simon Stead
REFEREE: C. Gay
KNOCKOUT CUP DRAW
QUARTER-FINALS
First Leg: Belle Vue 49-41 Sheffield. Second Leg: Sheffield 49–41 Belle Vue – Sheffield win super heat
First Leg: Leicester 42-48 Ipswich. Second Leg: Ipswich 47–43 Leicester
SEMI-FINALS
First Leg: Birmingham 44-46 Ipswich. Second Leg: Ipswich 51-39 Birmingham
First Leg: King’s Lynn 50-40 Sheffield. Second Leg: Sheffield 54-36 King’s Lynn
FINAL
First Leg: Sheffield 55–35 Ipswich. Second Leg: Ipswich 45-45 Sheffield
THE STORY
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches drew their Knockout Cup final second leg fixture against Sheffield on Thursday night at Foxhall as Sheffield were crowned Knockout Cup champions on aggregate.
A depleted Ipswich went into the fixture as big underdogs having lost 55-35 in the first leg and they had to make up the 20-point deficit without the injured trio of Jason Doyle, Emil Sayfutdinov and Jordan Jenkins. Rider replacement was in operation at one with Tom Brennan and James Pearson coming in as guests. The visitors were using rider replacement for Tai Woffinden. The Witches started strongly and pulled 10 points back after six races, but the Tigers steadied themselves and had enough to see the job through and lift the Knockout Cup. Keynan Rew top scored with 14 points.
The hosts fired in a 5-1 in heat one with Brennan and Adam Ellis first across the line. Dan Gilkes missed the two-minute time allowance in heat two and was forced to start from 15 metres. Dan Thompson won as Gilkes caught Foxhall newcomer Pearson to ensure a 3-3. Sheffield gated on a maximum in heat three as Josh Pickering and Chris Holder hit the front but Rew rounded Chris Holder and then Brennan shot up the inside of him for a share of the points. The strong start continued in heat four as Danny King and Thompson raced to a maximum putting them 16-8 up on the night and 51-63 behind on aggregate.
Rew won a shared heat five and it was a 4-2 to the Witches in heat six as King took the chequered flag and Ellis pulled off a fine move as he swooped round Jason Edwards for a point on the final lap. Sheffield recorded a maximum in heat seven and Kyle Howarth won heat eight, but it was a 3-3 as Thompson and Ellis both relegated Gilkes to the back. That left Ipswich 27-21 in front on the night and 62-76 behind on aggregate.
There was another maximum from Rew and Brennan in heat nine, but Chris Holder and Josh Pickering repaid the compliment in heat 10. The away side secured another maximum in heat 11 to put them on the brink of victory. Rew took victory in heat 12 in an Ipswich 4-2 making it 38-34 on the night with Sheffield 73-89 ahead on aggregate.
The away side secured the trophy in heat 13 with a maximum. Brennan won heat 14 in a Witches 4-2, but the meeting ended in a draw as Sheffield got a heat advantage in the final race of the night to make it 45-45. It was a spirited display by the injury-hit Witches, but it was Sheffield who were crowned Knockout Cup champions after a 20-point aggregate win.
REACTION FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflects on Thursday’s draw against Sheffield.
“I was proud of the boys tonight; it was a mammoth task ahead of them even more so after losing Jordan last night. They came out and put everything into it and gave us a bit of hope at the start of the meeting after starting off so well. It would have been easy after recent results to roll over and take another defeat and use excuses, but they didn’t. They came out and fought like you should in a cup final and it gives us great optimism going into the play-offs on Monday.
“We know what could have been if we didn’t have all of the injuries but that is the situation and as a team, we are not thinking about that. They are doing the best they can do, and we are missing two of the best riders in the league, it is what it is. Everyone talks about it a lot more than we do as a team, the guys are out there and are doing their jobs better than expected for most of them. We will have a full one to seven next week and we look forward to Monday. I was very pleased with the improvement we have shown in the last few weeks, it was immense tonight and it gives the boys a lot to build on for Monday now.
“Keynan was exceptionally good tonight; he has stepped back into the team after that spell at reserve and to see him riding that well in the main body of the team gives us great optimism looking ahead to next year. He is our rider and someone we would like to keep so that is pleasing to see.
“Dan is back at reserve and looked super quick. It is good to see his improvement around here as well. He was a bit down on confidence around Foxhall in the last month, so it was great to see him score well, and I thought he looked the quickest he’s ever looked tonight.
“I can’t see Jordan riding again this season. He was here tonight so fair play to him; he came straight from hospital to support the boys which is great commitment and something I love to see.
“Many congratulations to Sheffield on winning the cup, I know they were disappointed to miss out to us last year and they were by far the better team over the two legs.”
RIDER OF THE NIGHT
Rew looked an accomplished heat leader in the number three position, racking up 14 points which included three race wins and some entertaining passing moves.
WHAT IT MEANS
Although a patched-up Ipswich side battled to a draw on the night, Sheffield are 2024 Knockout Cup champions after claiming the aggregate victory.
UP NEXT
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches host the Leicester Lions at Foxhall Stadium on Monday 9th September in a ROWE Motor Oil Premiership play-off semi-final first leg fixture. Tickets can be purchased on the gate and in advance here.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway