MATCH REPORT: Great Blakenham show their quality
These fierce local rivals went head to head in this Division One clash looking to keep momentum, after both teams securing wins in their opening fixtures. Great Blakenham were looking to beat Ipswich for the first time since April 2012.
Ipswich arrived at Blakenham with a depleted side, with only five riders available due to call offs and other commitments, while their hosts tracked seven riders, including the welcome return of Jonjo Slaughter, who himself didn’t have very happy memories of his last encounter, having suffered a broken collar bone.
Nevertheless, Ipswich were going to make a fight of it and through the entire match the lead changed hands on several occasions, making it a tight and tense match. Blakenham could smell an upset on the cards and a chance to put themselves top of the league. They were lead by the captain Adam Peck and the faultless Lewis Osborne (pictured on grid one), who Ipswich had no answer for, as he rode to a maximum twenty four points. One of the stand out riders was the fast improving Sam Turland, who must have posted one of his best returns with fourteen points.
Try as the Whirlwinds might, the extra man was always going to be too much for the reigning champions to cover, but this must not take anything away from the home team who rode brilliantly. Great Blakenham finally secured their win in heat seventeen, when for the first time a five point gap appeared, securing the points.
For Ipswich Whirlwinds, it’s Hethersett up next, a match they simply must not lose. The champions will lick their wounds, dust themselves down and will come out fighting. For Great Blakenham, could they be the surprise package this season? If they can get a full team out every week they will a force to be reckoned with.
Great Blakenham 89
Lewis Osborne 24 (6), Adam Peck 20+1 (6), Sam Turland 14 (6), Jonjo Slaughter 12+1(6), Gavin Whitehouse 9 (6), Terry Ashford 8 (6), Steve Johnson 2 (2)
Ipswich Whirlwinds 84
Ben harvey 21 (6),Lewis Roberts 19+2 (6), Leon Mower 19 (6), Pierce Bacon 16 +3 (6), Phil Clarke 9+2 (6)
Referee – Dave Hill (Suffolk)
Heat by heat
Heat One – Roberts, Slaughter, Whitehouse
Heat Two – Osborne, Mower, Turland, Clarke
Heat Three – Harvey, Peck, Bacon, Ashford
Heat Four – Osborne, Roberts, Turland
Heat Five – Mower, Peck, Clarke, Ashford
Heat Six – Harvey, Bacon, Whitehouse, Slaughter (ex)
Heat Seven – Roberts, Ashford, Peck
Heat Eight – Slaughter, Mower, Whitehouse, Clarke
Heat Nine – Osborne, Harvey, Bacon, Turland
Heat Ten – Turland, Mower, Slaughter
Heat Eleven – Peck, Roberts, Bacon, Whitehouse
Heat Twelve – Osborne, Harvey, Clarke, Johnson
Heat Thirteen – Bacon, Roberts, Turland, Slaughter
Heat Fourteen – Peck, Harvey, Clarke, Johnson
Heat Fifteen – Osborne, Mower, Ashford
Heat Sixteen – Harvey, Turland, Slaughter, Clarke
Heat Seventeen – Peck, Mower, Whitehouse
Heat Eighteen – Osborne, Bacon, Roberts, Ashford
GTB 5 IPW 4
GTB 11 IPW 8
GTB 15 IPW 14
GTB 21 IPW 17
GTB 25 IPW 23
GTB 27 IPW 30
GTB 32 IPW 34
GTB 38 IPW 38
GTB 43 IPW 43
GTB 49 IPW 46
GTB 54 IPW 51
GTB 59 IPW 56
GTB 62 IPW 63
GTB 67 IPW 68
GTB 73 IPW 71
GTB 78 IPW 76
GTB 84 IPW 79
GTB 89 IPW 84