PLENTY IN RESERVE FOR WITCHES
IPSWICH reserves Dan Thompson and Jordan Jenkins made the difference with sensational performances to help their team through to a 47-43 away win at Birmingham.
The Witches made it two ROWE Motor Oil Premiership victories on the road in the space of five days, but with their power-packed top order unusually down on scoring, Thompson racked up 15 from six rides and Jenkins added eight, including two key race wins, as the visitors still got the result.
A spirited comeback from the Brummies saw them pull back from eight points down to level with a 5-1 in Heat 11 after both Tom Brennan and Jason Doyle suffered disqualifications in successive races, but Ipswich won it with a maximum in Heat 14 from Brennan and Thompson after Antti Vuolas crashed out.
Witches manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “The reserves have won us the meeting, which when you think of our top end is a delight for me to see. They were absolutely superb.
“Dan is flying, he is making brilliant starts and is so quick on track. He doesn’t look like a No.6, he is riding like a heat leader at the moment, and it doesn’t look like he is pushing himself to be there, he looks comfortable.
“Jordan’s two wins were superb, to jump on and come in for Adam (Ellis) after he touched the tapes and win the race was critical at that stage of the meeting and gave us a bit of a lead.”
Keynan Rew top-scored for the Brummies with 9+1, and manager Chris Adams said: “Well, it was a far better performance than on our first night here.
“Their reserves were the key ones for Ipswich but they’re a really strong side and I was glad that we ran them close.
“Yes I’m a little bit disappointed in the end that we couldn’t get the win and I thought that Heat 14 was going to be a re-run, but other than that it is what it is and we’ll now focus on the next one.”
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Photo credit: PHIL McGLYNN
