MATCH REPORT: Eagles left to rue mistakes

The Eagles team were at full strength yesterday afternoon and looking to kick start their season against the reigning champions, Horspath, who arrived without two of their Polish riders, but still could boast a formidable team for the home side to deal with.

The match itself was all but done and dusted inside the first three heats, as Ipswich shot themselves in the foot with two exclusions handing Horspath a ten point cushion, which never looked to be overturned by the home team. Another exclusion in heat six compounded the result beyond repair as Horspath took a thirteen point lead into the break.

To be fair to the home team, they did rally in the second half and gave a better account of themselves without really making inroads into the scoreline, as Horspath did what they had to do, taking no risks and marshalling the heats not giving Ipswich any glimpses they would be able to turn it around.

Lewis Osborne and Zac Payne were the stand out riders for the away side, with Boaler and Paradzinski in supporting roles. For the home team Ashley Hill and Jamie Chittock were the only shining lights in a disappointing performance, while captain Adam Peck was his usual dependable self posting sixteen points. Ipswich will need to pick themselves up very quickly, with confidence at a low the next two matches could determine the rest of the season, with a trip to Newport and a home match to Poole, in which Ipswich will be expected to win.

Team manager Tony Stant certainly has his work cut out to lift his troops for the battles ahead, but as they say, “you don’t come a bad team overnight”. If they can iron out the mistakes that have crept over the past weeks, there is still time to make a mark in this season’s competition.

Ipswich Eagles 81
Leon Mower 3, Adam Peck 16, Lewis Roberts 6, Ashley Hill 14+2, Charlie Rumbold 11, Joshua Brooke 11 , Matthew Hill 9 , Jamie Chittock 11+1

Horspath Hammers  96
Lewis Osborne 16+1, Lukasz Nowacki 10+1, Andy Johnson 8+2, Chris Timms 16+1, Mark Boaler 13+2, Zac Payne 15+1, Macin Parazinski 16, Lee Clarke 4 .

Referee – Terry Ashford (Suffolk) 

Elite League Combination

Ipswich Eagles (62 +56 ) 118
Daniel Knights 8+1, Lauren Jacobs 9, Pierce Bacon 14, Fraser Harris 9+1, Ben Harvey 4+1, Charlie-Jane Herbert 8, Harrison Bacon 6, Alex Harvey 4

Horspath Hammers  67
Mark Boaler 10, Jim Collier 7+1, Lee Clarke 10, Chris Timms 10+1, Andy Johnson 12+1, Zac Payne 18+2

Referee – Terry Ashford