ROBERT Miskowiak was the star as Ipswich Witches scorched to their biggest aggregate win of the season at Foxhall Stadium last night.The home side made short work of a depleted Eastbourne side to move off the foot of the Sky Sport Elite League at Foxhall Stadium last night.

By Elvin King

ROBERT Miskowiak was the star as Ipswich Witches scorched to their biggest aggregate win of the season at Foxhall Stadium last night.

The home side made short work of a depleted Eastbourne side to move off the foot of the Sky Sport Elite League at Foxhall Stadium last night.

The Suffolk side dropped to the bottom following the withdrawal of Oxford from the league, which was confirmed yesterday.

This was Ipswich's fourth straight home victory, and at Foxhall at least they are beginning to have a solid look about them. Their 30 point success beat last Thursday's 61-32 win over Reading last Thursday.

With a couple of clubs currently experiencing problems in this troubled year for British speedway, the Witches will look to move up the table after a shaky start that was not helped by the untimely injury to number one Mark Loram.

Jesper B Jensen and Steve Johnston are two Oxford riders who will be linked with a move to the Witches, but the message coming loud and clear from Foxhall track last night was 'We are a good enough side as we are.'

The riders possibly under some pressure - Marcin Rempala and Kim Jansson - were in encouraging form on a night when Ipswich again scored solidly throughout the side.

Miskowiak made a mockery of his poor form in his native Poland to lead the Witches scorers and he is now showing the benefits of being in the Elite League for three years.

The current state of British top level speedway was exposed again with as many full time riders from Lakeside as Eastbourne coming to the tapes.

Adam Shields (Ipswich), Joonas Kylmakorpi and Leigh Lanham (both Eastbourne) were loaned by the Hammers for the night - with the Eagles' only regular representatives being Davey Watt, Lewis Bridger and Stefan Andersson.

The Sussex-based side has been hit by injuries to Nicki Pedersen, David Norris, Dean Barker and Cameron Woodward.

But as far as the Witches were concerned it was not a fill-in three-team tournament. They went at the opposition from the start making the most of the favourable outside gates in the early stages.

Two maximum heat advantages set the ball rolling nicely with the home riders far too quick from the tapes on a well-prepared circuit and on a sunlit night.

Skipper Chris Louis passed Watt on the third lap of race three to have home fans on their feet, before Miskowiak notched his first victory of the evening in heat four.

Shields went beyond Lanham on the final circuit of heat six, and Ipswich gained another 5-1 in the next race when Miskowiak's strong first turn saw the Eagles gain no reward from Watt wearing the black and white helmet colour and riding for double points.Rempala gained second place after Watt lost contact with his footrest going round the second turn.

Watt won heats ten and 12 to stem the tide somewhat, and he passed Suchecki on the third lap of heat nine to gain second place.

After three drawn heats in a meeting that was not the best Foxhall will stage this year, Miskowiak was again lightning quick from the gate to gain three more points in heat 13.

Rempala showed good starting skills to win the penultimate race, and in heat 15 Watt put the seal on his good finish to the meeting by denying Miskowiak a maximum with a strong start and sharp first turn.

THE Witches will have Grand Prix rider Chris Harris guesting for Mark Loram in the return fixture at Eastbourne tomorrow night. Mildenhall's Jason King takes the place of Tobi Kroner, who is expected to be out for up to a fortnight with a foot injury.

GP leader Nicki Pedersen is due to ride in the Danish championship tonight and is expected to take his place in the Eagles side tomorrow after missing out at Foxhall last night because of an injury he sustained in the Swedish GP last weekend.