SHEFFIELD were beaten by ten points on their travels for a second meeting in a row as they went down 50-40 at league leaders Ipswich.
The Tru7 Group Tigers had the opportunity to leapfrog their opponents at the top of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership, but instead it was the Witches who claimed the three league points on offer to extend their lead.
Things got off to a dream start for Simon Stead’s side when Jack Holder and Kyle Howarth opened with a 5-1 - but the hosts responded immediately with a maximum of their own.
Former Sheffield man Adam Ellis then led a 4-2 for Ipswich before drama in Heat Four.
Tai Woffinden had got himself out front but lifted on bend four and was disqualified.
The re-run saw Rising Star Dan Gilkes step up superbly though as he made a stunning gate away from the inside and managed to fend off hard-charging heat-leader Emil Sayfutdinov in a major scalp for the youngster.
Jack Holder and Howarth conceded a 5-1 in Heat Five before Woffinden dusted himself down to lead a 4-2 with Jason Edwards in the sixth.
The hosts managed successive 4-2s to open up an eight point lead after Heat Eight before Woffinden led a share of the spoils in the ninth.
The gap was opened up to ten points after Heat 10 before the Jack Holder and Howarth looked set for another 5-1 in Heat 11. But a slight mistake from the skipper on the final lap allowed Sayfutdinov through to split the pair.
Woffinden made it a straight hat-trick of victories as a Tactical Substitute as he and Chris Holder got a 4-2 in Heat 12, but the Brit and Jack Holder had to settle for a 3-3 in Heat 13 after a blistering start from home guest Chris Harris.
The Witches sealed things with a race to spare in Heat 14 and whilst Jack Holder rounded off with a third win of the night, Woffinden retired after being squeezed to the back by Sayfutdinov after temporarily holding second place.
Speedway is back at Owlerton THIS WEDNESDAY (June 12, 7.30pm) as Kyle Howarth stages his Testimonial event.
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1 IPSWICH 50: Keynan Rew 10, Scott Nicholls 9+1, Emil Sayfutdinov 9, Adam Ellis 8+3, Chris Harris 7, Jordan Jenkins 4+2, Dan Thompson 3. SHEFFIELD 40: Jack Holder 11, Tai Woffinden 10+1, Kyle Howarth 6+1, Chris Holder 5, Dan Gilkes 4, Josh Pickering 3, Jason Edwards 1. Ipswich win the aggregate point 96-84.
