Lakeside Hammers 55, Ipswich Witches 37
By COLIN MUNFORD
LAKESIDE strolled to a comfortable and convincing Elite League victory over near neighbours Ipswich on Friday and now almost look certain for a play-off spot.
It was a complete demolition against the league’s basement boys with only Scott Nicholls and Danny King looking capable of mustering any resistance to the home side’s power.
Lee Richardson again exemplified Lakeside’s dominance with a four-ride maximum, while skipper Adam Shields rode well and there was a strong debut for Peter Ljung.
The Hammers called upon Kyle Legault at reserve and the Canadian looked comfortable, finishing with a solid 7+2 return.
Lakeside got off to the best possible start through Legault and Stuart Robson, with the latter sweeping round Kozza Smith and Linus Sundstrom in one manoeuvre for a heat maximum to build on Richardson and Ljung’s opening heat advantage.
And even Danny King’s fantastic win in the third heat where he kept Kauko Nieminen and Jonas Davidsson at bay could not halt the Hammers’ dominance with Shields’ first victory in the following heat.
A slight blip saw Scott Nicholls help his side reduce the deficit but the Hammers’ all round strength was too much for the beleaguered Witches as Ljung and Richardson strolled to an easy heat maximum to give the home side a ten point lead with only six heats gone.
The visitors tried their best to get back into the meeting with a tactical ride for reserve Linus Sundstrom in heat eight but Peter Ljung was to deny the Swede with his first win in the Hammers colours.
By heat nine the home side had opened up a 14-point lead and that was extended in probably the heat of the night as Legault managed to hold off the tactical ride from Scott Nicholls.
Skipper Shields could have helped out his colleague but decided to blaze away from the pack for the heat win but the determined Legault held on to second spot on the line.
Ipswich managed to keep the damage to 18 points with a shock win for Ales Dryml in the penultimate heat, and the visitors’ night ended on a positive one with Nicholls taking the final heat in front of Nieminen and Shields
Lakeside Hammers 55: Lee Richardson 12, Peter Ljung 6+1, Kauko Nieminen 10+2, Jonas Davidsson 5+2, Adam Shields 11, Kyle Legault 7+2, Stuart Robson 4.
Ipswich Witches 37: Scott Nicholls 11, Chris Slabon 2+1, Daniel King 9, Ales Dryml 4+1, Robert Miskowiak 3+1, Kozza Smith 0, Linus Sundstrom 8.