MATCH REPORT: Whirlwinds still in the hunt with victory over Panthers

Ipswich entertained the Panthers of Kesgrave yesterday afternoon in the warm sunshine, looking to maintain the pressure on the top two, who were in action against one another at Hethersett.

With one ear on how events were unravelling over in Norfolk, it was important that the Whirlwinds made sure of securing two points in their pursuit of this years title. They got off to the perfect start by reeling off the first three heats and in doing so, open up an eleven point lead. Credit to their opponents, as they did manage to halt the onslaught by sharing the next four heats, before Ipswich recorded another maximum in eight and with heat nine shared, meant that the home team went into the break fifteen points to the good.

Ipswich were straight out of the blocks in ten with another maximum to kill off the match. Five more shared heats were to follow as Kesgrave dug in their heels and were determined not to let their hosts gallop away in to the distance. One more maximum heat in sixteen with young reserve Ethan Mitchell taking the cheqered flag, while been protected by team mate Ben Harvey, this being Ethan’s first taste of senior racing, he can be pleased with his eight points from three outings.

Ipswich’s Josh Brooke and Ben Harvey both scored a paid maximums. For Kesgrave, youngsters Keanu Bowers and Lewis Brinkhoff gave very good accounts of themselves. With news that the Ipswich Eagles had came away with a victory at Hethersett to take them top of the league, Wednesday night’s showdown sets up an mouth watering tie between these two heavy weights of the South East league.

A win for the Eagles will end all hope of the Whirlwinds have on winning back to back titles, while a Whirlwinds victory will take it to a winner takes all on October 11th, when the top three will go head to head in one of the most exciting climax’s the league has witness in all it’s years.

Ipswich Whirlwinds 101
Josh Brooke 23+1, Ben Harvey 22+2, Jamie Chittock 22+1, Leon Mower 10, Phil Clarke 9, Ethan Mitchell 8, Mark Debman 7.

Kesgrave Panthers 78
Lewis Brinkhoff 15+2, Gary Brown 14+1, Ray Pyke 13+3, Keanu Bowers 11+2, James Johnson 11+1, Gary Bowers 7, Jake Vincent 3 +1.