SCORECARD

LEICESTER 49: Max Fricke © 14+1 (Paid Maximum), Luke Becker 3, Ryan Douglas 14, Kyle Howarth 3, Sam Masters 10, Drew Kemp 3, Joe Thompson (RS) 2+1. Team Manager: Stewart Dickson

IPSWICH 41: Jason Doyle 6+1, Adam Ellis 3+1, Emil Sayfutdinov 9, Danny King © 0, Tom Brennan 8+1, Dan Thompson 12+2, Jason Edwards (RS) 3. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins

REFEREE: W. Dishington

ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP TABLE

Team	Meetings	Points
Ipswich	21	40
Belle Vue	22	35
Sheffield	19	34
Leicester	20	34
King’s Lynn	20	21
Oxford	22	11
Birmingham	22	6

THE REPORT

The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches were beaten at Leicester on Monday night in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.

The hosts edged ahead early on but there was never more than six points between the two sides heading into a last-heat decider. However, Leicester secured the victory with the sole maximum of the meeting in heat 15 as Ipswich took the aggregate bonus point for their efforts. Dan Thompson top scored with 12+2.

Max Fricke won a shared heat one and the Witches were on a 5-1 in heat two with Thompson leading and Jason Edwards in second, but Edwards straightened up going into the third turn, hurtled into the air fence and was excluded. Thompson made the gate again in the re-run and held off pressure from Drew Kemp to win. The Lions struck a 4-2 in heat three to go in front and they added another in heat four as Sam Masters rounded Tom Brennan at the end of the first lap to take the victory and make it 14-10 to Leicester.

The hosts were in another 4-2 position in heat five, but Kyle Howarth took out Jason Doyle going into the first turn of the third lap whilst attempting to get into second place and was excluded. Doyle picked himself up to win the re-run in a first Witches heat advantage of the night. Thompson and Brennan looked set for a maximum in heat six, but Fricke snuck up both of them on the run to the line to snatch the win in a 3-3. Leicester registered a 4-2 in heat seven, but it was cancelled out in heat eight as Edwards raced to victory, leaving it 25-23 to the Lions.

The points were shared in heat nine as the home team raced to a 4-2 in heat 10. Ritchie Hawkins put Thompson in heat 11 in place of Adam Ellis, and he led the race until Masters found a way past going into the final lap for a 3-3. There was another 3-3 in heat 12 with the score 38-34 to the home team.

Doyle made the gate in heat 13 but got out of shape on the second turn which allowed the Lions through, but Brennan rode well to split the pair of Fricke and Masters with Doyle retiring at the back. Sayfutdinov was brought in as a tactical substitute in heat 14 with Thompson replacing Edwards. Thompson picked up another impressive win, but Sayfutdinov found himself at the back and was forced to work hard to pass Kemp for third in a Witches 4-2 that took it to a last-heat decider with Leicester four points to the good. The win was confirmed for the Lions in heat 15 with the only 5-1 of the evening making the final score 49-41.

RITCHIE HAWKINS REACTION

Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflects on Monday’s defeat at Leicester…

“It was a really close meeting throughout, we never quite got our noses in front, and they managed to keep in front all night. We managed to take it to a last-heat decider and took the bonus point which was important for us if we are going to finish top. Overall, there were some positives and some good performances and a couple of riders who struggled more than they normally would here. We did what we needed to do without being spectacular.

“We know how good Dan is at Leicester and he was our best rider again tonight. He has had a really busy period and that is why he didn’t come out for heat 15 but it was really good to see him back riding like that, that was a big positive. I thought Tom was a lot better than the points he got, he was a bit unlucky at times. It was a superb ride from Jason to win heat eight, so there were positives, and we picked up a lot of seconds and thirds but just didn’t have enough heat winners tonight.

“Their heat leaders are in great form; Jason had a really big knock which affected his last couple of rides. Emil worked really hard but couldn’t find the speed he normally has at Leicester. It was a tough night for Danny and Adam as well, but they have gone well enough times at Leicester for that to mean too much if we go back there again in the play-offs.”

RIDER OF THE NIGHT

Fans online voted for Thompson who top scored from reserve with 12+2.

WHAT IT MEANS

Leicester pick up two points and stay fourth in the table whilst Ipswich stay top and collect the aggregate bonus point after a 54-36 win over the Lions back in June.

NEXT FIXTURE

The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches host the King’s Lynn Stars at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday 21^st August in a ROWE Motor Oil Premiership fixture. Tickets can be purchased on the gate and in advance here.