King’s Lynn Stars v Ipswich Witches

KING’S Lynn are the first team through to the League Cup Final after their 56-34 win over Ipswich on Monday.

The Stars kept up their impressive start to the season with new skipper Josh Pickering scoring a paid maximum (14+1) in their third successive victory.

It means they top the group standings ahead of Peterborough, who have completed their fixtures, and they will face either Sheffield or Wolverhampton in the Final – with the Northern group to be resolved at Owlerton next month.

Jason Doyle scored 11 and Troy Batchelor 10+1 for the Witches, who travelled without three riders due to illness and injury – including former Stars man Erik Riss, who crashed in Germany at the weekend.

King’s Lynn boss Alex Brady said: “The first couple of heats were nip and tuck but then we took control and it was a great night.

“There have been a lot of words on social media from certain individuals and I think they were swallowed tonight. It was very pleasing. The boys did their talking on the track and it was brilliant.”

Witches manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “It was always going to be a tough night with only having half a side, and so it proved to be, but the main thing is that the positives came out of our own actual riders.

“King’s Lynn have definitely improved on what they were in the last couple of seasons, they’ve started the season very well and fair play to them for winning the group.”

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Photo credit: DEREK LEADER