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From the Witches Website The ‘Tru7.com’ Witches are back in action at Foxhall on Thursday as they take on the Berwick Bandits in the Knockout Cup (7.30pm). This meeting is sponsored by title sponsors ‘Tru7.com’. The Witches started the 2017 season in style on Saturday night as they put Sheffield to the sword to bag three Championship points in front of a big crowd. Attentions now turn to the Knockout Cup as Berwick visit Suffolk for the first leg tie as the home side look to build a lead to defend at Shielfield Park on Saturday. The Foxhall outfit have been dealt an early blow with the news that Kyle Newman will be ruled out for a period of time after fracturing his shoulder blade and tearing muscles in his shoulder after a fall at Poole last Friday. Chris Louis and Ritchie Hawkins have moved quickly to cover Newman’s absence by bringing back James Sarjeant on a short term deal until Newman is back fully fit. Sarjeant was a hit with the Foxhall crowd in 2016 and will ride at number two on Thursday. It’s an exciting year for the Bandits as they enter their 50th season and with new owners and management, optimism is high on the terraces. Managed by Gary Havelock, the Bandits swooped for Lewis Bridger to spearhead their 2017 team with Witches asset Kevin Doolan captaining the side again this season. Dany Gappmaier misses Thursday's clash with concussion and is replaced by Leicester's Danny Ayres at reserve. Team Manager Hawkins is hoping his side can build up some momentum and take a big lead to Berwick on Saturday. “It’s nice to be riding again a few days after a good result and we can build some momentum,” said Hawkins. “We have got a week off after the Knockout Cup clashes with Berwick and we can’t afford any slip ups, it’s a competition we want to win. We need to put in a really good performance and build a decent lead.” Hawkins says the feedback on the track changes at Foxhall has been positive amongst the riders. “The feedback was really positive which is good for Chris (Louis), we know the surface is a lot better now. Even I could see that the wideness of the track was helping, you could see it helping Nico (Covatti) straight away in his first ride. You will see more use of the wideness over the course of the year but all the work Chris has done on the banking has been a massive improvement.” The boss says his side will head to Berwick on Saturday looking to win whatever happens on Thursday and wants to see his team progress week by week. “We have got to put a solid performance like we did last week and I have no doubt that we are good enough to go through. We will go up to Berwick looking to win too but we will concentrate on building the biggest lead possible on Thursday. As riders it would be good to see each of them progress more this week too.” Hawkins had special words for Berwick but is hoping his team end their Knockout Cup hopes this week. “I wish Berwick all the best, it seems like a breath of fresh air for everyone up there with the changes and I have heard the crowds are good which is positive. We had a good crowd on Saturday and I really hope it is successful up at Berwick as they are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet but I hope we knock them out this week!” Words: Henry Chard Ipswich ‘Tru7.com’ Witches: 1. Danny King © 9.57 2. James Sarjeant 5.81 3. Nico Covatti 7.49 4. Cameron Heeps 5.07 5. Rory Schlein 7.17 6. Connor Mountain 2.00 7. Danyon Hume 2.00 Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins ‘Olympus Marquees’ Berwick Bandits: 1. Lewis Bridger 8.53 2. Liam Carr 4.69 3. Dimitri Berge 6.91 4. Claus Vissing 6.80 5. Kevin Doolan © 6.99 6. Danny Ayres (g) 3.60 7. Ryan Blacklock 2.00 Team Manager: Gary Havelock Referee: P. Carrington Last five home results v Berwick: 14.07.16 W58-34 20.08.15 W60-30 21.05.15 W46-44 31.07.14 W60-34 01.08.13 W56-37 Witches Knockout Cup history: 2016 R1 Lost v Rye House 2015 R1 Lost v Berwick 2014 Runners Up v Edinburgh 2013 QF Lost v Workington 2012 Runners-Up to Newcastle Berwick in 2017: TTT Newcastle 55-35 Berwick TTT Berwick 45-45 Newcastle

Danny Ayres guesting , oh the Scotsman will be pleased to see one of his fav riders !!

Has really come on in the last year , looked good as i have said last Sat . Quick out of the gate , brave in the 1st corner and looked quick all night . Made one small mistake when he fell dived into the corner and slide off but that could have just have been due to the recent track changes made over the winter . Our little band on the backstraight at foxhall the BSF MASSIF have really taken to the lad , he even came and joined us in the stands end of last season when he was injured .

Witches have had to replace Kyle as well , same rider ? Big loss for both teams speedy recovery Kyle .

Hume looked good on Sat night for the Witches 8+1 from 5 rides . Looked to be fully over the shoulder injury that finished his season last year , gonna be a big year for Danyon .

Don't think they were expecting such a large crowd, just shows the power of social media. You promote it correctly and you will get the just rewards .

Equalled the TR Danny set last year of 55.8 in heat 11 . Mind you does that still stand from last year after the track alterations in the close season? Does that make Rory the new TR holder . 7.17 average I know it's only 1 meeting but think he's gonna add 1.25 -1.5 on that this season. Another who I've already said on the BSF MASSIF FB page will make a mockery of their average is Hume . 2.00 starting average the lad looked good last night and is only going to improve as the season progresses.

There queing to get in . Good turn out

Would say prob bike as he won his next heat.

Newman been advised to miss the rest of the poole meeting . Hmmmm not good

Well balanced teams there got the making of a cracking meeting , this is one Witches fan who will be there on April 9th .

And from the picture you can clearly see Newman's race suit is slightly different from the rest of the team .

He loves us all really .

I'm sure the Scotsman will be along soon to tell we don't know what cold is !

Come on taps you should know by now the 1st meeting of the season is always bloody freezing .

Massif on tour ! Looking at our team i'd say its going to be one of the tracks we really should go well at , i'm sure there will be a good following from the Witches that day .

Ha ha ha where did u get that price from . If that's what you've been quoted for their pulling your leg . Don't pay anything near that price .

Well i've had all the BT sports channels for free ever since Virgin Media introduced them as a bonus for all there customers who have the XL tv package think they may call it their Full House package now .

Currently have both , get BT sport free from my Virgin Media TV package . Think i 'm going to be cancelling Sky Sports

Here is the link if anyone wants to read it . http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.31858 I think its good news for the sport just hope BT dont turn into the money grabbing fat cats like Sky have become .

Your on form today I see .

Anyone going to the meet the riders night March 22nd ?

Was a shame I missed seeing you lot last night but already had something planned in advance. Oh well less than 3 weeks to go to tapes up .

So was this always going to happen? Have they just been stringing along all the fans and riders from day one . Sad times.

Just over 4 weeks to go can't come quick enough.