Ipswich Witches v Belle Vue Aces

Report

IPSWICH seized control of the first Sports Insure Premiership play-off semi-final with a stunning 54-36 home win over league leaders Belle Vue.

The Witches maintained their excellent form in the closing stages of the season to leave the defending champions with a major fight on their hands to overturn the position on their own track next Monday.

Emil Sayfutdinov led the scoring for the Foxhall side with 14 points, beaten only by Brady Kurtz in Heat 15, whilst guest Chris Harris (10+3) and skipper Danny King (10+1) both chipped in with double figures, and Keynan Rew added paid-11 at reserve.

Aces skipper Kurtz notched 10 with Tom Brennan next in line on 8+1, and both won races in the closing stages to keep their side in the tie.

Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “It was as good a performance and result as we could have hoped for. We had two guests come in who both performed very well and fitted straight into the team.

“We have built up some great momentum here at Foxhall and some home track advantage. Conditions were wet from all the rain we have had but we showed our determination to get stuck into the dirt and race for the cause.

“I’m delighted with every single one of them and it was a brilliant result.”

Belle Vue star Tom Brennan said: “Disappointed I don’t think quite covers it. We really want to retain our title in 2023 and we’ve worked really, really hard to get to this point.

“Thursday, unfortunately, didn’t go as planned, there’s no two ways about it. Ipswich were very good on their home track and showed us why they deserve to be here in the play-offs.

“We had a dreadful night, nobody needs to tell us that and we’re not taking this defeat lightly. We still believe we can do it; this is something we really want and we’ll be going all out to win.”

SPORTS INSURE PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF, SEMI-FINAL, 1st leg
IPSWICH 54: Emil Sayfutdinov 14, Chris Harris 10+3, Danny King 10+1, Keynan Rew 9+2, Erik Riss 6+1, Danyon Hume 3, Jack Smith 2.
BELLE VUE 36: Brady Kurtz 10, Tom Brennan 8+1, Jaimon Lidsey 8, Dan Bewley 5, Norick Blodorn 3, Connor Bailey 2, Charles Wright r/r.

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Photo credit: STEPHEN WALLER