Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins declared himself proud of his riders after last night's 46-44 win at King's Lynn kept slim play-off hopes alive. 

Securing three points in the final league meeting of the season moves the Witches into fourth and leaves them waiting on the result of Leicester’s final league meeting to see if they make the play-offs. 

“It's another win at Lynn and I’m really proud of the boys and how determined they were," said Hawkins.

"Lynn tried everything to get the better of us tonight, they tried every trick in the book really as they have done all season, but we managed to get another win and I’m super proud of how they’ve been over the last six weeks or so.

"That is seven wins in eight to finish the league season and we look forward to the cup final next week now.

"We should have been here two weeks ago and got the win already, but we were made to wait. It was a dubious decision with Breum who was withdrawn tonight, we all know what is going on, but nothing is going to be done about it. We had to stick with it, and we did, and we got the win.

“The heat leaders did great and to be fair everyone scored and contributed. I thought the effort Keynan put in at reserve was superb and if he can put everything like that into every meeting then next season you will really see him push on and it could well be key for the cup final.

“It looks like we might miss out on the play-offs by one or two points, and I definitely think that home defeat to Belle Vue was really costly, and we thought that at the time.

“So many Ipswich fans were here again. You know Ipswich are in town because wherever we go, we have massive crowds. We have a tremendous following. I went to see quite a few of them after the meeting and thanked them. For anyone I didn’t see, thank you for coming. We all appreciate it and I’m glad we sent you home happy.”

The Witches now travel to South Yorkshire on Monday, September 11 to take on the Sheffield Tigers at Owlerton in the Knockout Cup final first leg. Tickets can be purchased on the gate.

KING’S LYNN 44: Robert Lambert 15, Nicolai Klindt R/R, Emil Breum 0 (Withdrawn), Connor Mountain (G) 3, Michael Palm Toft 2+1, Simon Lambert © 15+2, Anders Rowe (RS) 9+2. Team Manager: David Hoggart

IPSWICH 46: Emil Sayfutdinov 14, Danyon Hume 3, Danny King © 10, Erik Riss 2, Jason Doyle 10+2, Keynan Rew 6+3, Ashton Boughen (G) (RS) 1. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins

REFEREE: C. Gay