Premiership Pairs – Round 5 @ Belle Vue

BELLE Vue made a triumphant homecoming after their league title success by winning the fifth round of the Premiership Pairs.

The Aces, who were represented by Brady Kurtz, Matej Zagar and Rising Star Tom Brennan, defeated series leaders Ipswich with a 7-2 in the Final.

The result means the Manchester side could still mathematically win the competition in Monday’s finale at Leicester – but the Witches are 12 points ahead and would therefore need to finish last with the Aces winning the meeting to leave the overall scores tied.

There was a dramatic finish to the semi-final when Peterborough’s Chris Harris crashed on the last bend, with that incident sending Ipswich into the Final.

Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon said: “It’s been long overdue. We’ve had a pretty solid performance in the Pairs competition, but we haven’t quite got to the chequered flag when it mattered most.

“But tonight the Aces were brilliant and Tom stepped up as the Rising Star and had a great race, and gave me a bit of a tough decision whether to leave him in or not!

“It’s pretty hard not to see Ipswich putting in a solid effort on Monday and claiming the overall series, and righty so – they probably deserve it. But we’ve had a pretty good year so far, so who knows?”

Ipswich promoter Chris Louis said: “There is no shame in finishing second to Belle Vue, they are hard to beat around here, particularly Brady and Zagar, so I was pleased with the end result.

“At the end of the day, we maintained our 12-point lead, it is a different team chasing now but to come in with a 12-point lead and leave with a 12-point lead, I’m happy with that.”

PREMIERSHIP PAIRS Round 5, Belle Vue
QUALIFYING SCORES:
BELLE VUE 31: Brady Kurtz 18, Matej Zagar 10, Tom Brennan (RS) 3.
IPSWICH 25: Jason Doyle 18, Erik Riss 5, Anders Rowe (RS) 2.
PETERBOROUGH 20: Chris Harris 16, Benjamin Basso 4, Jordan Jenkins (RS) 0.
WOLVERHAMPTON 20: Sam Masters 15, Ryan Douglas 5, Ace Pijper (RS) 0.
SHEFFIELD 20: Jack Holder 14, Justin Sedgmen 4, Connor Mountain (RS) 2.
KING’S LYNN 19: Frederik Jakobsen 11, Richard Lawson 8, Jack Smith (RS) 0.

SEMI-FINAL: Doyle, Basso, Riss, Harris (f.exc) – [Ipswich beat Peterborough 6-3].
GRAND FINAL: Zagar, Kurtz, Doyle, Riss – [Belle Vue beat Ipswich 7-2]

ROUND 5 RESULT
Belle Vue 12, Ipswich 8, Peterbrough 6, Wolverhampton 4, Sheffield 2, King’s Lynn 0.

STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 5
Ipswich 46, Belle Vue 34, Sheffield 26, King’s Lynn 26, Peterborough 14, Wolverhampton 14.

OFFICIAL REFEREE SCORECARD
Available here

The result of the meeting was later amended after a SCB statement. Click here to read the statement.

Amended Result and Standings as follows:

ROUND 5 RESULT
Belle Vue 12, Ipswich 8, Wolverhampton 6, Peterbrough 4, Sheffield 2, King’s Lynn 0.

STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 5
Ipswich 46, Belle Vue 34, Sheffield 26, King’s Lynn 26, Wolverhampton 16, Peterborough 12.

Photo credit: DEREK LEADER