SHEFFIELD suffered a second half collapse as they were beaten 54-36 at league leaders Ipswich on Thursday.
It was a second straight defeat on their travels following a heavy loss at Belle Vue at the beginning of the month, but they still sit 11 points ahead of King’s Lynn who are just outside the play-off positions in fifth.
Despite being without Tobiasz Musielak with chest and arm pains, the Tru Plant Tigers really did take it to an in-form Ipswich side in the first half of the clash in Suffolk.
They were just two points down with eight races gone, despite only having three race wins to their name, and belief in the camp was good.
But the hosts began to make the faster starts and it was the Witches’ who grew in confidence to eventually record what seemed to be a fairly routine win.
Tru Plant Tigers team boss Simon Stead said: “Obviously we’re disappointed, particularly after being so close early on.
“In the end I think it was a combination of running out of steam trying to cover for Tobi with R/R as well as a bit of misfortune also.
“Jack (Holder) was winning Heat 11 until he suffered an engine failure - we were on a 3-3 at the time and the gap would’ve been at eight with four to go.
“Instead, it gifted them a 5-1, they went 12 up and that was a key moment I think.
“In my opinion, the result flatters Ipswich and doesn’t reflect the meeting itself.
“I’m convinced Tobi would’ve scored more than his R/R rides got (4+1) and looking at previous results for (Ben) Barker, Tom (Brennan) did better than he normally does in that position.
“So they caught us at our weakest with a key rider down and we caught them when they were overstrength if anything.
“Unfortunately, it’s another result that has now been and gone, there’s nothing we can do about it now so there’s no point dwelling on it.
“The lads have got a couple of weeks to regroup and then it’s time to make sure we start getting things right again with a really busy and important August ahead of us.”
The Tru Plant Tigers face five crunch Premiership fixtures next month - starting when Wolverhampton visit Owlerton on Thursday, August 4 (7.30).
IPSWICH 54: Jason Doyle 15, Erik Riss 12+1, Danny King 9, Troy Batchelor 8+3, Tom Brennan 8, Danyon Hume 2+1, Paul Starke R/R.
