Ipswich Witches v Northampton Foxes

IPSWICH were taken to a last-heat decider at Foxhall before securing a 47-43 victory over ROWE Motor Oil Premiership newcomers Northampton.

The Foxes overcame injury issues and a low-scoring night for No.1 Jaimon Lidsey to come back from eight points down and force a nervous finale for the Witches.
Tobiasz Musielak got the home side over the line with a win in Heat 15, completing a strong performance where he scored 13 points, with the visitors having required a 5-1 from that race to snatch a draw.

Skipper Danny King was involved in two key Ipswich 5-1s as he totalled 8+2, whilst Kye Thomson and guest Chris Harris (both 12) and skipper Nicolai Klindt (11+2) provided the bulk of the Foxes’ scoring.

Ipswich manager Paul Hurry said: “We need more meetings and bike time. I’m not saying they forget how to ride a bike, but race sharpness and time on the bike are key.

“When you look at Tom Brennan, he is largely only riding in Britain at the moment, so he is not getting as much bike time as he needs. Him competing against other No.1s, who are on it every night, is a battle for Tom.

“Danny King and Scott Nicholls are the same. They have had a very long break with their Championship club Plymouth’s fixtures. Scott was practising at the end of the meeting because he wasn’t totally happy with what he was doing.”

Foxes boss Chris Adams said: “I think on the whole with us missing (Niels) Iversen and (Jonas) Jeppesen after they were injured on Wednesday night, and with Jaimon and Troy (Batchelor) both having mechanical gremlins, I have to be well happy with the performance to come away only losing by four.

“It’s a shame we didn’t get the win, because I felt we did deserve it, but considering all the circumstances that happened all night, we ran them close and we’ll take that. It puts us in good stead to get the aggregate point when they come to Northampton.”

ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1
IPSWICH 47: Tobiasz Musielak 13, Danny King 8+2, Richard Lawson 6+1, Scott Nicholls 6+1, Jason Edwards 6, Jordan Jenkins 4+1, Tom Brennan 4+1.
NORTHAMPTON 43: Chris Harris 12, Kye Thomson 12, Nicolai Klindt 11+2, Troy Batchelor 4, Luke Harrison 3+1, Jaimon Lidsey 1, Jonas Jeppesen r/r.

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Photo credit: JEFF HIGGOTT