A depleted ‘Tru7.com’ Witches side put in a fantastic performance at Foxhall on Saturday night to beat Redcar Bears 54-38 and collect three Championship points.
The Witches had the better of the early exchanges but the Bears always kept within striking distance before a strong finish gave some gloss to the final score line. Danny King was in phenomenal form for the Witches scoring an 18-point maximum.
The night got off to a fantastic start in heat one as skipper King and James Sarjeant hit a maximum to get the ball rolling. Danyon Hume went through the tapes in heat two and went off 15 metres in the re-run. The re-run was full of passing as Connor Mountain led Jack Parkinson-Blackburn before being passed and Hume got himself into third passing Richard Hall only for Hall to repay the compliment meaning a 4-2 to the Bears. It was the Bears’ turn to go through the tapes in heat three as Charles Wright was the next rider to go off 15 metres. King, taking the rider replacement ride won ahead of Jonas B Andersen with Witches guest Josh Bates third for a 4-2 to the Witches as Wright fell on the final lap whilst in last. Former Witch Ben Barker won heat four ahead of Rory Schlein as Hume held onto third for a 3-3 leaving it 14-10 to the Witches.
There was another tapes incident in heat five as visiting skipper Jason Garrity then went through them and was the latest man to go from 15 metres. The Witches punished them in the re-run as Sarjeant and Bates recorded a 5-1 to extend their early lead in the tie. King made it three wins from three in heat six as Sarjeant claimed third for another heat advantage to the home side. The Bears sent out Andersen on a tactical ride in heat seven but Schlein won the heat with the Bears having to settle for a 5-3. Sarjeant fell in the first turn of heat eight as the race continued and Hume stormed to victory passing Coty Garcia down the back straight in a 3-3 to give the Witches a 29-21 lead.
The home side recorded another 5-1 in heat nine as Schlein and Bates took the honours this time to increase the lead on the night. King’s immaculate form continued in heat 10 as he cruised to victory in a shared heat. The away side hit back in heat 11 though in controversial circumstances after Garrity appeared to jump the start as Schlein pulled up expecting a red light. However, the referee let the race continue and the Bears duo recorded a 5-1 much to the anger of the Australian. Bates was proving to be an excellent choice of guest and he won heat 12 as Hume passed Parkinson-Blackburn on the second lap to get third for a 4-2 to give the Witches a 42-32 lead.
Garrity jumped the start again in heat 12 which was noticed on this occasion and in the re-run King won yet again as Schlein and Barker enjoyed a terrific battle for third before Barker fell going into the third bend of the second lap and was excluded with the race being awarded as a 4-2 to the home side. Bates completed his excellent guest appearance by winning heat 14 in a 3-3. King completed his stunning night by winning heat 15 with Schlein in second for a 5-1 that made the final score 54-38 to the Witches.
Ipswich ‘Tru7.com’ Witches 54
Danny King (c) 18 (Maximum)
James Sarjeant 5+2
Josh Bates (g) 12+1
Rory Schlein 11+1
Connor Mountain 3
Danyon Hume 5+1
Redcar ‘SG Petch’ Bears 38
Jason Garrity (c) 7
Coty Garcia 5+1
Charles Wright 5+1
Jonas B Andersen 9+1
Ben Barker 6
Richard Hall 1
Jack Parkinson-Blackburn (g) 5+2
Championship Table
| Team | Pl | Pts |
| Edinburgh | 4 | 12 |
| Glasgow | 4 | 10 |
| Witches | 6 | 10 |
| Sheffield | 5 | 9 |
| Peterborough | 5 | 9 |
| Scunthorpe | 8 | 7 |
| Workington | 2 | 6 |
| Redcar | 4 | 6 |
| Newcastle | 2 | 3 |
| Berwick | 6 | 0 |
George Baker Shipping Rider of the Night: Danny King
Next Meeting: C1 23rd April vs Newcastle (away)