LIONS WIN AS WITCHES HIT TROUBLE

LEICESTER moved up to second in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership table with a 55-35 win over depleted Ipswich at the Hydroscand Arena.

Already without skipper Danny King due to injury, the Witches received a major blow an hour before the start when they discovered Richard Lawson would also be absent due to illness.

Despite that, the visitors made a bright start and actually led the meeting after Heat 6, but they were then blown away by four successive Lions 5-1s.

The final margin would have been greater but for a sensational display from Tobiasz Musielak, who scored 15+2 from seven rides, and the Pole produced one of the rides of the season with a third to first effort in Heat 15.

That saw him prevent Lions skipper Sam Masters (12+2) from carding a paid maximum as he was edged out on the run to the line, whilst reserve Drew Kemp (13+3) also starred for the home side against his old club.

Leicester manager Stewart Dickson said: “It was a very good, entertaining meeting and obviously we’re pleased to get the win.

“I was particularly pleased with our reserves, both Drew and Joe (Thompson) were very strong, and I know the Thompson twins are really close to the supporters because of how long they’ve been here.

“As you’d expect, the atmosphere in the pits was good because everyone was having a decent night, and I think there was a lot of entertaining racing.”

Ipswich boss Paul Hurry said: “I found out Richard wouldn’t be there at 6.30pm, so fair play to Freddy Hodder – I couldn’t have asked anything more from him. He came in, made starts and did the best job possible.

“The boys we had did their job. Tobi was Tobi – he did what he was capable of doing. Tobi and Tom (Brennan) did well.

“Kevin (Juhl Pedersen) has never been there before, so you can’t expect too much from him, but he did well. I am really happy with him. He’s as keen as anything and wants to improve. That’s why we have kept him.”

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Photo credit: TAYLOR LANNING