WITCHES WIN IN TENSE FINALE

DEFENDING ROWE Motor Oil Premiership champions Ipswich held on for a first away win of the league campaign in a dramatic finish at Northampton on Monday.

The Witches appeared to be coasting to victory as they led by eight points with three races remaining, but a Foxes comeback reduced that gap to two points heading into Heat 15.

Jaimon Lidsey won the last race for the home side but captain Nicolai Klindt was kept at the back by Tobiasz Musielak and Richard Lawson as the Witches got the result over the line to move up to second in the table.

Musielak top-scored with 12 points and Lawson added 10+3, with guest reserve Kevin Juhl Pedersen making a vital contribution with 6+1. Lidsey scored 12 and Klindt nine for the Foxes.

Ipswich boss Paul Hurry said: “(Kevin) was good and with a performance like that, he kept us in front and helped us win the meeting. We are going to give him another chance at King’s Lynn (on Thursday).

“Richard is a lifesaver at times. What can I say? When the chips are down, you can rely on Richard and Tobi. You can rely on the others too.”

Northampton manager Chris Adams said: “Again it’s a little hard to take losing at home, but you can see the signs are there and we are chipping away.

“We are just lacking in a couple of areas, we know this, and we will turn it around. I think in a week or two now, you’re going to see a fair few more wins at home.”

OFFICIAL REFEREE SCORECARD
Available here

Photo credit: JEFF DAVIES