WITCHES UP FOR THE CUP

IPSWICH promoter Chris Louis says there will be additional incentive to win the Premiership KO Cup when the Witches meet Sheffield next week.

The Suffolk side are suddenly in the mix for a league and Cup double after unexpectedly making it into the title play-offs with a strong late-season run and Leicester’s failure to overhaul them on Thursday.

The first leg of the Cup Final takes place at Owlerton on Monday with the Foxhall return on Thursday as the Witches chase their first win in the competition since way back in 1998.

Louis said: “I have many reasons to want to beat Sheffield. They beat us in the Championship play-off Final back in 2017, dancing around at our place after winning it. I don’t want that happening again. Revenge would be very sweet.

“This season we’ve stuck by our riders, even though we cop a lot of flak for doing so, while they have made multiple changes. It would be good to show that a bit of loyalty does pay off.

“As a team we have entertained people up and down the country, including Sheffield, with our top two riders in the country in Emil (Sayfutdinov) and Jason (Doyle) bringing in the crowds.

“Our fans have been superb all season. They deserve the glory, as does the team.”