The Evening Star Ipswich Witches were victorious this evening when they defeated the Swindon Robins 54-39 at Foxhall Stadium in a match sponsored byVolvoTruck and Bus Centre East Anglia. The meeting was televised live by Sky Sports.

The Witches were looking to keep up their challenge for a play-off spot against a Swindon team currently sitting in second place in the Elite League table. Ipswich lined up with their now customary six man team in the continued absence of Chris Louis.

Swindon had Australian Troy Batchelor making his comeback in the side after injury. At reserve they tracked Krzysztof Stojanowski who rides for the Isle of Wight in the Premier League and he was partnered by the Swindon number 8 Joel Parsons who also rides for Sheffield in the Premier League.

Piotr Swiderski made a fine start in the opening heat whilst Leigh Adams tangled with Steve Johnston at the first corner before the Robins skipper forced his way underneath Johnston to relegate the Ipswich man to the back. Tobi Kroner then maintained his perfect record in the reserves race this season and with Chris Schraam following him home the Witches took a four point lead. The lead was doubled in heat three when Jarek Hampel and Steve Johnston finished well clear of the Robins pairing of Mads Korneliussen and James Wright. Ipswich recorded their third consecutive 5-1 in the next race when Robert Miskowiak and Chris Schraam left Troy Batchelor in their wake after Joel Parsons had been excluded in the first attempt to run the race.

Swindon boss Alun Rossiter immediately awarded a tactical ride to skipper Leigh Adams who swept around Jarek Hampel on the second bend to pull away and win comfortably. Travis McGowan’s third place meant a 7-2 heat win for the away side and the Witches lead was therefore reduced to seven points. In the previous encounter at Foxhall in April between the two sides Swindon had fallen behind early in the meeting and on that occasion Leigh Adam’s tactical ride in heat 5 had proven to be the catalyst to a Robins’ fightback and eventual victory. With that in mind the Witches’ fans were relieved to see Piotr Swiderski and Robert Miskowiak sweep to a 5-1 victory in the sixth race and then Miskowiak repeated the feat when partnering Tobi Kroner in heat 7 and Ipswich were now fifteen points ahead. Confidence was high upon the terraces for a further advantage in heat 8 with the unbeaten Piotr Swiderski taking a rider replacement outing partnered by the similarly unbeaten Chris Schraam. It was the Swindon pairing of Travis McGowan and Kryzsztof Stojanowski however who took the spoils with a deserved 5-1 victory. So after eight races the Witches led 31-20.

Jarek Hampel then cruised away from Troy Batchelor and with Steve Johnston third Ipswich increased their lead and pulled even further ahead in heat 10 with their sixth 5-1 of the evening from Tobi Kroner and Piotr Swiderski. Leigh Adams was masterful in heat 11 waiting for his partner Travis McGowan to come around him off the second bend and then team riding him home. Jarek Hampel took heat 12 with the Swindon riders filling the minor places and the Witches led 44-31 with three heats remaining.

Piotr Swiderski then got the better of Leigh Adams for the second time in the meeting in heat 13 and with the young Pole riding the race from right out by the fence there was simply no way past for the veteran Australian. Robert Miskowiak finished third and the Witches had clinched victory. Tobi Kroner won the penultimate race but Steve Johnston could make no impression on the Robins pairing and in the final race Leigh Adams was always well in control to finish clear of Robert Miskowiak and Piotr Swiderski. The final score read 54-39 to the home team.

For the Witches Piotr Swiderski scored 12+2 and received the rider of the night award, whilst Robert Miskowiak scored 12+1 points and Jarek Hampel and Tobi Kroner were both paid for twelve points.

Leigh Adams was the ‘main man’ for Swindon with 15+1 and Travis McGowan was next best with 8+1.

With Eastbourne winning at Wolverhampton and Lakeside doing likewise at Coventry the League Table has an ‘as you were’ look about it but the next seven days could be pivotal to the Witches hopes for the season. On Thursday they travel to Swindon where they have previously drawn this season whilst on both Friday at Lakeside and next Monday at Wolverhampton they will be riding at tracks where they have already tasted success previously this season.
 
Ipswich Witches:
Piotr Swiderski 12+2, Chris Louis rider replacement, Jarek Hampel 11, Steve Johnston 3+1, Robert Miskowiak 12+1, Tobi Kroner 11+1, Chris Schraam 5+2.

Swindon Robins:
Leigh Adams 15+1, Travis McGowan 8+1, Mads Korneliusen 4+1, James Wright 2, Troy Batchelor 3, Krzysztof  Stojanowski 6+2, Joel Parsons 1.