IPSWICH Witches suffered another rain-off on Friday, this time with just 45 minutes to go to start time.

IPSWICH Witches suffered another rain-off on Friday night, this time with just 45 minutes to go to start time.

The Suffolk side were down in Plymouth and ready for League Cup action when the heaven’s opened at 6.45pm.

An hour later the track was under water and despite the efforts of the track staff, the right decision to call the meeting off was taken.

“It was totally the right decision,” Ipswich team manager Pete Simmons said.

“They made every effort to get the track right but there was no chance. Track work continued up until 8pm, but by then the meeting needed to be started, but it couldn’t.

“It’s proving a real headache.”

Indeed speedway is taking a real hammering during the recent bad weather.

Ipswich are not alone in losing meetings to the rain, but it means riders are not earning money and promoters are not bringing money in through the turnstiles.

“You have to feel for the riders especially,” Simmons added.

“They earn money only on the track and when there are no meetings, their income is badly affected.

“OK, so these meetings will be ridden sometime, but that is no consolation right now.”

The League Cup programme has been very badly affected by rain-offs all over the country. Ipswich will have to visit Plymouth again, while they still have to fit in League Cup clashes at Rye House, as well as a home meeting with Plymouth.

Should the Witches finish in the top two of their section, which there is every chance, then they will have to arrange home and away semi-final clashes with a side from the northern section.

Should they win their semi-final they will then have home and away Cup final meetings to arrange. That maybe all in the future but you don’t have to be a genius to look at the Witches fixture list to know it is going to be tough fitting all the meetings in should they lose too many more to the weather.

Meanwhile the Suffolk side will be hoping the weather gods will be on their side on Bank Holiday Monday when the Witches entertain Sheffield in the Premier League at Foxhall Stadium, 2.30pm.

Sheffield have endured a tough start to the season after a thrilling 2011 which saw them pip Ipswich for the runners-up place in the Premier League. Kids go free with a voucher from the Ipswich Star newspaper.