IPSWICH ‘Sackers’ Witches welcome the Workington ‘Thomas Armstrong’ Comets to Foxhall on Thursday for the first leg of a League Cup Semi Final tie.

IPSWICH ‘Sackers’ Witches welcome the Workington ‘Thomas Armstrong’ Comets to Foxhall on Thursday for the first leg of a League Cup Semi Final tie.

The visitors look very different to the team that ran out convincing winners when they came to Ipswich for a Premier League fixture back in June.

They have lost the services of Kyle Howarth, Adam Roynon & Kenny Ingalls through injury and Rusty Harrison left the team in July after announcing his retirement from the sport. Rusty was subsequently replaced by Tero Aarnio, who has now also been sidelined after a crash at Somerset last Friday. The Comets will use R/R to cover for Aarnio with Ashley Birks, Ricky Wells & Jason Bunyan coming in as guests for Ingalls, Roynon & Howarth.

Despite their injury problems Workington are still in the Knock Out Cup and have qualified for the Premier league playoffs so Ipswich cannot afford to be complacent and it is vital that they build up a significant lead to take up to Derwent Park for the return leg at the end of the month (Sunday 30th September). Ipswich field their usual team lineup with new British U19 Champion, Stefan Nielsen, back to deputise for Cameron Heeps at number seven.

With the final lineup for both the Premier League Playoffs and the Premier League Challenge Trophy not decided until the end of this week we are currently not able to confirm who we will be racing against next Thursday. All fans should check local media and our team website (www.ipswichwitches.co) for the latest fixture updates. We do know that Ipswich will definitely be taking part in the Premier League Challenge Trophy. There will be two groups of three teams with group sections to be determined geographically. The top team from each group will progress to the final.

Ipswich Speedway Supporters Club would like to remind fans that tickets are now available for their ‘End Of Season Party’ and that anyone wishing to attend should get their names down as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Full details are available on the team website and bookings can be made at the Supporters Club hut on Thursday night.

Ipswich ‘Sackers’ Witches: 1. Leigh Lanham 6.79, 2. Dakota North 6.47, 3. Taylor Poole 6.16, 4. Morten Risager 6.26, 5. Rohan Tungate 6.78, 6. Mat Tresarrieu 5.78, 7. Stefan Nielsen (G)

Workington ‘Thomas Armstrong’ Comets

1 Richard Lawson (C) 8.60, 2 R/R, 3 Rene Bach 7.65, 4 Ashley Birks (G), 5 Ricky Wells (G), 6 Ashley Morris 3.00, 7 Jason Bunyan (G)