By Henry Chard
THE SCORES
OXFORD 13: Rohan Tungate 1, Charles Wright 2, Lewis Kerr 2, Maciej Janowski 3+1, Chris Harris © 2, Erik Riss 3, Ashton Boughen (RS) 0. Team Manager: Peter Schroeck
IPSWICH 23: Jason Doyle R/R, Dan Thompson (RS) 2, Adam Ellis 6, Norick Blödorn (G) 0, Emil Sayfutdinov © 9, Keynan Rew 5+1, Jordan Jenkins 1+1. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins
REFEREE: C. Turnbull
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP TABLE
| Team | Meetings | Points |
| Ipswich | 11 | 21 |
| Sheffield | 10 | 17 |
| Belle Vue | 11 | 17 |
| Oxford | 11 | 13 |
| Leicester | 10 | 12 |
| Birmingham | 11 | 6 |
| King’s Lynn* | 8 | 1 |
THE STORY
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches’ tie at Oxford on Thursday night in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership was abandoned after six heats due to rain and the result does not stand.
With a bad weather forecast predicted for the evening, the Suffolk side arrived at a dry Oxford Stadium for the track walk, and it was hoped the meeting could be completed but a decision was made by the referee to call a halt to the meeting after six races with Ipswich leading by 10 points.
Light rain began to come down as the racing got underway and heat one was stopped as Rohan Tungate hit the deck on the opening lap as he tried to avoid going into the back of teammate Charles Wright. Tungate was excluded and the re-run was won by Emil Sayfutdinov as the Witches struck a heat advantage. Keynan Rew led heat two, but Erik Riss blasted round him on the last bend of the last lap for a 3-3. Adam Ellis was a clear winner in a shared heat three and the away side struck another 2-4 in heat four as Sayfutdinov won and a mistake by Ashton Boughen allowed Rew through for the point which gave the visitors a 10-14 lead.
The rain was still coming down and it was Ipswich who were quicker from the gate and attacking conditions better. Ellis cleared off for another win in heat five as his side extended the lead with a heat advantage. Wright was a faller in heat six and was excluded and in the re-run Sayfutdinov won and Rew passed Tungate for the maximum putting Ipswich 13-23 ahead.
The meeting was then stopped for track work to take place and after much debate between the two camps, the referee decided to abandon the meeting, only for the rain to then ease off on what was a frustrating day for the Witches.
REACTION FROM THE BOSS
Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflects on Thursday’s abandonment at Oxford.
“Clearly, we are really disappointed with the match being abandoned. We had started superbly again, and the boys looked determined and quick and had clearly got ourselves in a position to get another victory over Oxford.
“I was disappointed with how the rain-off came about. It started raining heavier in heats five and six and it gave Oxford a chance to hold the meeting up and then after they had finished grading the track it was obviously in a very poor state. It was ironic that five minutes after the referee called the meeting off, the rain stopped and maybe it was a missed opportunity to get the track work done and get the meeting completed.”
RIDERS OF THE NIGHT
Ellis and Sayfutdinov were flying and didn’t drop a point in their opening rides.
WHAT IT MEANS
The result does not stand, and Ipswich will have to travel back to Oxford later in the season for the re-staging.
UP NEXT
The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches host the Leicester Lions at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday 20th June in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership. Tickets can be purchased on the gate and in advance here.
Digital Media Manager at Ipswich Speedway