Speedway: Ipswich stay top of the table with victory over Sheffield
The two sides met in last season’s Knockout Cup final and play-off final
The Ipswich Witches have strengthened their position at the top of the table with a 46-44 win against reigning champions Sheffield.
The visitors were missing captain Danny King through injury, with Ryan Doulgas guesting in his place, whilst the hosts had Luke Killeen in for the injured Jason Edwards at reserve.
The two sides met in last season’s Knockout Cup final and play-off final and there was little to separate the teams throughout this contest, but the Witches edged ahead in heat 12 and saw out the result to consolidate their position at the top of the table.
Emil Sayfutdinov, Jason Doyle and Keynan Rew all scored 8+1.
"A brilliant result"
Ipswich team manager Ritchie Hawkins reflected on Monday’s win: “A brilliant result that carries on our terrific start to the season.
"I’m delighted that all seven contributed and we were so solid again. We were criticised heavily last year for being a two-man team, but we are far from that this year. "There is still more to come from us, and I am not getting carried away with one win at Sheffield at this time of year because I think we will have a lot of tough battles against them this year, but it is nice to go 1-0 up!
“We talked about not having won here for so long before the start because the reason we won that night was because we were solid throughout, and everyone scored.
"If you looked at the two score charts then compared to tonight, they are very similar. We knew what we needed to do, and this year compared to last year we carried on past the halfway mark in the meeting instead of dropping away. We stuck in there and got our rewards at the end.
“All seven riders contributed, and I think you are seeing a steady improvement in Jordan in the last few meetings. Keynan has taken it up a level and Dan has too. Our younger members of the side are massively contributing and that is the difference, it is plain and simple...
"It is a long season ahead, we could well have to come here in the cup and play-offs and if we lose those meetings, no one is going to remember tonight.
"It is a great result which keeps the ball rolling and shows we mean business again this year, but we are not getting carried away.”
The Witches next race on Thursday, when they welcome the Birmingham Brummies to Foxhall.