Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins is confident his side can overturn a six-point deficit in the second leg of the KO Cup Final following last night's 48–42 at Sheffield.

Ipswich started strongly and were four points to the good early on, but the Tigers responded in some style as five consecutive heat advantages gave them an eight-point lead.

The Suffolk visitors then battled hard in the latter part of the meeting - Danny King topscoring with 10 - to leave the tie finely poised ahead of the deciding leg at Foxhall on Thursday.

“I was really pleased with the boys," said Hawkins. "We got a bit beat up with Erik (Riss) and Keynan (Rew) having crashes, and we could have let it fall away, but we stuck in there and come away six points down. At the halfway stage, six points isn’t drastic and is certainly something we are confident in overturning.

“Danny (King) did really well and carried on his good form and stepped it up with an important ride in heat 12. It was great to see Erik bounce back from a disappointing meeting last time out and then he bounced back tonight, picking himself up from the deck and showing great mental strength to carry on and score some vital points.

“Erik and Keynan are both sore, Keynan is suffering more than Erik at the moment, and I am sure they will be sore in the morning. We are confident they will be okay for Thursday, but we will know more in the morning.

“I think it was a meeting that provided everything a cup final should. Racing like that in the rain was brilliant to see. It leaves things evenly poised and exciting going into Thursday.”

SHEFFIELD 48: Max Fricke (G) 2+1, Kyle Howarth © 10, Chris Holder 9, Josh Pickering 11+1, Tobiasz Musielak 9, Kyle Newman (G) 4, Jason Edwards (RS) 3+2. Team Manager: Simon Stead.

IPSWICH 42: Emil Sayfutdinov 9, Erik Riss 7, Danny King © 10, Danyon Hume 2, Jason Doyle 8+2, Keynan Rew 6, Joe Thompson (G) (RS) 0. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins.