King’s Lynn Stars v Ipswich Witches

IPSWICH got their job done in their Sports Insure Premiership finale with a 46-44 win at King’s Lynn – but they are now reliant on Peterborough for a big favour on Thursday.

The Witches are up to fourth place in the table, level on points with Leicester and with a superior race points difference, but the Lions have one match remaining and only need the aggregate point when they travel to the East of England Arena to snatch the final play-off place.

Emil Sayfutdinov and Jason Doyle collected a crucial 3-3 after Robert Lambert had got ahead in Heat 15 at the Adrian Flux Arena, with the Witches going into the last race two points up after a close-fought meeting.

Sayfutdinov, with 14 points, dropped his only point in that race, with Doyle adding 10+2 and captain Danny King scored 10.

Meanwhile Lambert scored 15 from seven rides for the Stars but suffered two pieces of mechanical misfortune, and the home side also scored big at reserve again with skipper Simon Lambert racking up 15+2 and Anders Rowe adding 9+2.

Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “Another win at Lynn and I’m really proud of the boys and how determined they were. That is seven wins in eight to finish the league season and we look forward to the Cup Final next week now.

“It looks like we might miss out on the play-offs by one or two points, and I definitely think that home defeat to Belle Vue was really costly, and we thought that at the time.”

Stars owner Keith Chapman said: “It was so tight, and a couple of breakdowns cost us, but the effort the boys put in was amazing, and credit to them all.

“It’s been great to see Robert back at the club and the two reserves we’ve brought in, Simon and Anders, have been absolutely brilliant.”

KING’S LYNN 44: Simon Lambert 15+2, Simon Lambert 15, Anders Rowe 9+2, Connor Mountain 3, Michael Palm Toft 2, Emil Breum 0, Nicolai Klindt r/r.
IPSWICH 46: Emil Sayfutdinov 14, Jason Doyle 10+2, Danny King 10, Keynan Rew 6+3, Danyon Hume 3, Erik Riss 2, Aston Boughen 1.
Ipswich win the aggregate point

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Photo credit: DEREK LEADER