MATCH REPORT: Eagles finally beat Whirlwinds

The Ipswich Eagles beat the Ipswich Whirlwinds 78-76, to record their first win over the league champions in five attempts.

Both teams were at full strength, a cracker of a match looked to be on the cards and that’s exactly what the two teams offered up to the ‘home’ crowd.

Things started of perfectly for the Whirlwinds, when Harvey/Chittock produced a well worked 7-3, but the Eagles hit back in what was a disaster four heats for the away side.

Dan Pike was excluded for moving at the starts in heat 2, leaving young Harrison Bacon to battle away of grid 4, resulting in a 7-2.

A 6-4 and two 7-3s followed as the Eagles turned the screw, both the Hills looking very sharp from the starts, racing into an 11 point lead.

A 7-3 from Bacon/Brooke closed the gap for the Whirlwinds, but another well worked 6-4 from Hill/Knights had the Eagles 9 up at half time.

The Whirlwinds came out firing in the second half, and after 3 good heats had eaten into the deficit, coming out one point to the good. However, disaster struck again for Pike, clipping his opponents back wheel and being lapped before he could remount his bike.

A heat advantage in heat 15 put the Eagles three point in the lead with just the nominated heat left.

The side selected M Hill/Rumbold to try and bring the points home, with the Whirlwinds opting for Chittock/Brooke to get the 7-3 they needed for a last heat winner.

On the first run, Chittock collided with Rumbold, and when unable to remount his bike was excluded for causing the stoppage. The race was re run with just three riders, the Whirlwinds chances looking gone, needing both Eagles riders excluded to win.

But despite Matt Hill being excluded for moving at the tapes in the next run, Charlie Rumbold rode sensibly to take the 2nd place and the all important 2 points.

It was a good disciplined performance from the Eagles, strong from the start and smart round the track, with Ash Hill featuring prominently.

For the Whirlwinds there were too many errors which led to maximum scores against and they will need to cut these out if they want to hold onto their title in 2016.