WITCHES STUN STARS

IPSWICH maintained their domination of visits to local rivals King’s Lynn with a 47-43 victory at the Adrian Flux Arena on Thursday.

The Premiership leaders moved five points clear at the top with their fourth successive league victory at the Norfolk venue across the last two seasons.

The Stars led by four points with three races remaining, but successive 5-1s to the Witches turned the meeting before Jason Doyle and Danny King packed in behind Nicolai Klindt in Heat 15.

King racked up 14 points for the visitors, dropping his only point in that deciding race, with Doyle adding 11+1. Klindt top-scored in his first appearance for the Stars with 9+2.

Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “It was a great win. We were missing a couple of riders, but the boys stepped it up and pulled it out of the bag when we needed them.

“At the end of the meeting, we were strong again and it shows what the boys are about. We have seen it so many times this year and to win again at King’s Lynn, we are delighted to see it.

“I was delighted to see Danny riding like that, he was a joy to watch. Four cracking starts and four wins during the heats and he was superb, and it is so nice to see him hit form again. It is at the right time for us for the rest of the season if he can carry this improvement on.”

Stars manager Alex Brady said: “To be honest we did well to stay in contention for as long as we did with the lack of heat winners throughout the night.

“We managed to pack the minor placings for much of the evening and to be four points up so late on without coming away with the win was a really tough pill to swallow.

“I still don’t think the play-off chase is over. Some people might think that is deluded but I like to think I am an optimist.”

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Photo credit: DEREK LEADER