By Henry Chard

THE SCORES

SHEFFIELD 46: Jack Holder 16+1, Kyle Howarth © 6+2, Chris Holder 6, Josh Pickering 5+1, Chris Harris (G) 11+1, Jason Edwards 1, Dan Gilkes (RS) 1. Team Manager: Simon Stead

IPSWICH 44: Jason Doyle R/R, Adam Ellis 9, Emil Sayfutdinov 13+1, Dan Thompson (RS) 5, Danny King © 4, Keynan Rew 7, Jordan Jenkins 6+2. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins

REFEREE: D. Watters

ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP TABLE

Team	Meetings	Points
Ipswich	19	34
Sheffield	19	32
Belle Vue	19	29
Leicester	18	26
Oxford	20	23
King’s Lynn*	17	11
Birmingham	19	6

THE STORY

The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches fell to a narrow defeat at Sheffield on Thursday night in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.

The visitors were using rider replacement in place of the injured Jason Doyle whilst the hosts had Chris Harris guesting for Tai Woffinden. The Tigers led by two points after six heats before Ipswich put together a run of heat advantages to lead by six after 10 races. Sheffield fought back to level the tie with the aid of a tactical substitute and took the league points in heat 15 as the night ended with a horrible crash for Emil Sayfutdinov which resulted in a 5-1 awarded to the hosts. Sayfutdinov top scored with 13+1.

Sheffield started with a 5-1 in heat one, but the Witches responded instantly with a maximum in heat two courtesy of Keynan Rew and Jordan Jenkins. Sayfutdinov roared to victory in a shared heat three and the Tigers gated on a 5-1 in heat four, but Jenkins rode superbly to pass Dan Gilkes for second to limit the damage to a 4-2 which gave the home team a 13-11 lead.

Adam Ellis was quickest out of the gate in heat five to lead and he was joined for an Ipswich maximum as Sayfutdinov majestically swooped round Chris Holder for second late on in the race. Sheffield hit back with a 5-1 in heat six to go back in front, but it was all level after heat seven as Sayfutdinov flew to victory and Dan Thompson picked up a point. Ellis romped to victory in heat eight and with Jenkins third it was another 2-4 to the away side putting them 23-25 up.

Chris Holder hit the deck on the opening lap in heat nine and was excluded. Danny King won the re-run, and it was another heat advantage to Ipswich with Rew in third. The run of 2-4s kept on coming as Sayfutdinov cruised to another three points in heat 10 and Thompson made Jack Holder work hard for second. Jack Holder was brought in as a tactical substitute in heat 11 and he duly won but Rew did well to hold off Harris for second, limiting the home team to a 4-2. The points were shared in heat 12 as Chris Holder managed to hold off Sayfutdinov to win making it 34-38 to Ipswich with three to race.

The tie was level after heat 13 as the hosts recorded a 5-1 but the Suffolk side edged back in front as Thompson rode wonderfully to win heat 14 ahead of Josh Pickering and Rew battled his way into third for the 2-4. A dramatic last-heat decider ended in a horrible crash on the final bend with Sayfutdinov and Jack Holder side by side at the front going into the final turn. Sayfutdinov was hurled into the fence and was flung back onto the track when he was caught by the oncoming Harris which meant he also came down. Sayfutdinov was taken away in an ambulance and the race was awarded as a 5-1 to Sheffield which gave them the victory on the night.

REACTION FROM THE BOSS

Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflects on Thursday’s defeat at Sheffield.

“Emil has gone to hospital, he was conscious, but it was a sickening crash. We will just await news on the severity and number of injuries that it will be. We have to hope for the best at the moment.

“They did well to get the meeting on with the wet weather but as the meeting went on it built up a massive dirt line right under the fence and the boys were racing on the limit. Unfortunately for Emil it was one bend too far and if that was the end result after heat 15 without the crash I would have gone away delighted with the boys after the effort and fight they showed. I thought we put in a tremendous performance, and I am super proud of them but none of that matters at all now. The result is immaterial because our thoughts are with Emil.

“It was another strong all-round team performance with everyone contributing with vital points at vital times. It looked like it was going to be an extremely good evening for us before heat 15 and all six riders I was happy with.

“Talking about the table to be brutally honest couldn’t be further from our minds. We are top and a win tonight probably would have secured finishing top but if we lose Emil as well, the season going forward is very difficult. It is all too early to assess that, we know we are in the play-offs and we have a month now to see if we can get ready and fit for it.”

RIDER OF THE NIGHT

Sayfutdinov was a joy to watch as he raced to 13+1 before a horror crash cruelly ended his night.

WHAT IT MEANS

Sheffield pick up two points to close the gap to two points on leaders Ipswich.

UP NEXT

The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches host the Leicester Lions at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday 15^th August in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership. Tickets can be purchased on the gate and in advance here.