Report
Pidcock Motorcycles Arena1 The Lions, Leicester, LE4 1DZ
Details
| Date | Tapes Up | Competition | Season | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, September 12, 2024 | 7:30 pm | ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Play-Off, Semi-Final, 2nd Leg | 2024 | Leicester win 92-88 on aggregate |
Report
LEICESTER are through to the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Grand Final after a dramatic clash with Ipswich went right down to the wire.
With one race of the semi-final remaining the teams were locked at 87-87 on aggregate, and with the Lions never having led overall throughout the tie.
But just as they had done at Foxhall on Monday, Leicester duo Sam Masters and Max Fricke roared from the gate in Heat 15 to seal their side’s progression with a 51-39 win on the night and by four points on aggregate.
Fricke scored 13+3 for the hosts with Masters and Richard Lawson both on 11+1, whilst Tom Brennan was a superb guest for the Witches with 11+1 in a meeting which featured a succession of incidents, falls and talking points after rain during the afternoon.
Leicester manager Stewart Dickson said: “I’ve got to give credit to all six of my riders for doing the job, because everybody put something on the scorechart, which was so important.
“Reaching the Final is a big, big achievement for the club, it’s great for me personally but it’s about the riders and supporters, and it’s been a really good night.
“Ipswich put up a great performance and you have to remember they were without their top two riders, but my focus has to be on Leicester, and we’ve done what we set out to do.”
Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “My first emotion is immense pride. To be a part of it this season has been an honour. The whole camp has worked so hard, the guys who have come in have fitted in really well and enjoyed the atmosphere and that is something we strive for.
“Track conditions were difficult but both teams went out there and put on the best show you could in the circumstances.
“I think it was a great showcase for play-off speedway and massive congratulations to Leicester, they are a great bunch of boys who I have a lot of respect for and good luck to them in the Final. I am sure whoever they are up against will face a very stern test.”
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF, SEMI-FINAL, 2ND LEG
LEICESTER 51: Max Fricke 13+3, Sam Masters 11+1, Richard Lawson 11+1, Luke Becker 8+2, Lewis Kerr 7, Sam Hagon 1+1, Ryan Douglas r/r.
IPSWICH 39: Tom Brennan 11+1, Adam Ellis 8+2, Dan Thompson 8, Jan Kvech 4, Keynan Rew 3, Ashton Boughen 3, Danny King 2.
Leicester win 92-88 on aggregate
OFFICIAL REFEREE SCORECARD
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Photo credit: STEVE DIXON