Tigers turn in a terrific performance

Mildenhall 43 Ipswich 47 Suffolk Cup, Second Leg, Sunday Ipswich win 101-83 on aggregate ANOTHER bumper West Row crowd and a thrilling local derby clash with a last heat decider against Elite League neighbours Ipswich were major positives for the Fen T

Mildenhall 43 Ipswich 47

Suffolk Cup, Second Leg, Sunday

Ipswich win 101-83

on aggregate

ANOTHER bumper West Row crowd and a thrilling local derby clash with a last heat decider against Elite League neighbours Ipswich were major positives for the Fen Tigers who ended their early season challenge matches with defeat in the Suffolk Cup.

Mildenhall promoter Mick Horton will take great comfort that supporters have responded in great numbers to his decision to take the Tigers up to the Premier League and his team have pushed reigning PL champions Rye House and an Elite League team to the wire at home in the opening weeks of the season.

Heat six provided the highlight for all. Jason King made the gate as Jason Lyons and Mark Loram tussled for four stunning laps behind. Loram eventually got ahead as he made a trademark last-bend blast around the outside of King but lost out on the line by the smallest of margins.

If that race was thrilling, the next was heart-in-the-mouth time as Polish star Piotr Protasiewicz lost control on the first turn, clattered into team-mate Robert Miskowiak and both went hurtling at speed into the safety fence, a stray bike striking a blow to Jon Armstrong along the way before getting mangled in the fence. The resulting 4-2 in the restart put the scores back level, 21-21.

Jason King took his second win in heat eight as Mildenhall took a brief lead but the Witches immediately responded with two 4-2's to go 31-29 ahead.

Armstrong showed his vital experience at reserve in heat 11 by keeping Louis out in the dirt for the crucial first two bends but a Witches 5-1 in the next put them six ahead with just three races to go.

Jason Lyons showed his class by beating Loram and Louis in heat 13 and an Armstrong/James Brundle 4-2 in the penultimate race set up a final heat decider.

Lyons made the gate with Protasiewicz tucked in behind as Daniel King swooped around Loram on the third and fourth turn and made a full-out effort into the pits turn to round Protasiewicz but hit on too much throttle and came to grief by the fence.

Lyons won the re-run and showed the class Mildenhall fans can come to expect from him for the rest of the season as he top scored with 11 points.