The Evening Star Ipswich Witches have added another valuable Elite League point to their total by matching the Coventry Bees on their home yesterday this afternoon.

In a match screened live on Sky Sports, the Witches more than held their own, and were unlucky not to walk away with 3 points after leading the meeting for 8 of the 15 heats. Coventry managed to regain control by heat 8 but were unable to make their home advantage count as the Witches scored points consistently throughout the team, with Jarek Hampel proving to be the star man scoring 13 points. The meeting ended with a thrilling climax as the Witches went in leading by 2 points before Hans Andersen forced his way into third place to secure the draw with a home 4-2.

The Witches recorded consecutive 5-1 maximums in heats 2 and 3, with Chris Schramm looking very impressive out front in the reserves heat before Jarek Hampel and Robert Miskowiak blocked out Chris Harris with some great team riding. The Bees hit back with 5-1’s of their own in heats 4 and 6 but in heat 5 Piotr Swiderski beat Harris while Tobi Kroner got ahead of Billy Janniro for another heat advantage. Two further drawn heats followed before a tremendous tussle between Witches new boy and former Coventry rider Rory Schlein and Chris Harris in heat 9. Both swapped first place with some inside and outside passing before Harris took the victory. Steve Johnston’s engine failure at the gate meant a 4-2 to the bees leaving the scores at 27-27 with 6 heats left.

Robert Miskowiak slid off in the next race, and Andersen was comfortable ahead of Hampel in the re-run for another home 4-2. While the Bees took the lead it was to be short lived, as after another drawn heat the Witches recorded a 4-2 in heat 12. Hampel beat Harris, and Johnston had to battle hard to keep Filip Sitera behind him. Heat 13 was another draw before the Witches again moved ahead to set up a last heat decider. Miskowiak led from the gate, with Schramm riding well to contest Janniro in second place. Janniro finished second in the end, but the 4-2 meant the Bees needed a 5-1 in the last to win the match.

It proved to be a thrilling climax, as the Witches pair of Piotr Swiderski and Jarek Hampel fought hard with Chris Harris and Hans Andersen. From the gate the Witches made it into a possible 5-1 position before a challenge from Harris saw him fly into the lead. Swiderski was then eventually picked off by Andersen before Andersen nearly got ahead Hampel at the finish. Both changed places on the last bend before the race to the line saw Hampel take the flag just in front to ensure that the Witches took a point on the night.

The Witches now continue their quest to secure their play off spot with a trip away to Wolverhampton on Monday September 1st.

Coventry Bees:
H.Andersen 13, S.Stead R/R, C.Harris 11, B.Janniro 4, O.Allen 10,    B.Barker 2+2, F.Sitera 5+3, J.Auty 0.

Ipswich Witches:
P.Swiderski 6+1,  T.Kroner 6+2, J.Hampel 13, R.Miskowiak 5+1, R.Schlein 5, S.Johnston 4+1, C.Schramm 6.