The Ipswich ‘Tru7 Group’ Witches’ season ended in agonising fashion last night as they were beaten by Leicester in a last-heat decider in the second leg of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership play-off semi-final.

The visitors were using the same three guests as Monday’s first leg, with Jan Kvěch, Tom Brennan and Ashton Boughen in for the injured trio of Jason Doyle, Emil Sayfutdinov and Jordan Jenkins. The hosts fielded the same line-up too, with rider replacement in operation for Ryan Douglas and Lewi Kerr in for Craig Cook.

Ipswich came into the tie with an eight-point lead after the first leg at Foxhall on Monday and there was a delay to start of this meeting due to rain, making track conditions tricky. The Lions edged in front early on, but Ipswich never gave up, despite decisions going against them all night, and they still led on aggregate after 11 races.

Leicester managed to level the aggregate score and it all boiled down to a last-heat decider which went the way of the Lions who progressed to the final. Brennan top scored with 11+1.

Kvěch was squeezed out in the first turn of the opening heat and was excluded after he fell. The Lions hit a 5-1 in the re-run in greasy conditions.

Boughen recorded an impressive win in heat two as the away side raced to a heat advantage. Brennan was the victim of first bend bunching in heat three but bizarrely the referee decided to exclude Keynan Rew on this occasion and it was to be the first of many strange decisions on the night. Brennan picked himself up and ensured that the Lions didn’t profit as he won the re-run. There was another 3-3 in heat four making it 13-11 to Leicester who still trailed 54-60 on aggregate.

The Lions struck a maximum in heat five and there was a 3-3 in heat six as Adam Ellis steamed past both Leicester riders on the back straight of the opening lap to take victory.

Heat seven was stopped with the Witches coasting towards a maximum as Sam Hagon fell at the back. Rew and Brennan repeated the trick in the re-run as they were untroubled for the 1-5. The away side looked set for another maximum in heat eight as Danny King and Dan Thompson hit the front, but King slipped off whilst leading which resulted in a 3-3. That left Leicester 25-23 up on the night, but it was Ipswich who still led 66-72 on aggregate.

Sam Masters broke down on the start line of heat nine and was excluded with Kerr replacing him. The Lions got a 4-2 when the race did get going as Luke Becker took the chequered flag.

Rew was excluded again in heat 10 as he got out of shape in the first turn and hit the fence. As he did earlier in the night, Brennan won the re-run to ensure a share of the points.

Kvěch found himself on the floor again at the start of heat 11, having been pushed wide by Max Fricke, and on this occasion all four riders were called back unlike in heat three. The home team were awarded a 4-2 in the re-run as King fell at the back whilst trying to pass Kerr for a point.

Rew slid off again at the start of heat 12 and suffered his third exclusion of the night, with Thompson having made the gate. Leicester registered a 4-2 in the re-run which put them 40-32 up on the night and levelled it at 81-81 on aggregate.

Heat 13 was yet another race that didn’t get past the first bend as Fricke lost control and wiped-out Ellis but bafflingly all four were called back as referee Christina Turnbull continued to have, what we will call, an ‘inconsistent’ night on this occasion. In the re-run Becker took out Kvěch going into the third turn of the opening lap and was excluded. Fricke won the third attempt keeping the score level on aggregate with two to race.

Brennan produced a sensational ride to win heat 14 as he wound it on to pass Kerr at the end of the first lap, meaning it all went down to a last-heat decider. Heat 15 went the way of the Lions as they hit a maximum which booked their spot in the play-off final and ended Ipswich’s season.

Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “My first emotion is immense pride. To be a part of it this season has been an honour. The whole camp has worked so hard, the guys who have come in have fitted in really well and enjoyed the atmosphere and that is something we strive for. The never say die attitude is as strong as I have ever seen before, to lose two such influential people at different stages of the season and to carry on in their absence with their performances and living up to their expectations.

"Both play-off meetings we have had a super young team out and they have done the Witches proud. Thank you to all the travelling support all season and certainly tonight. It is massively appreciated by us all and we will regroup and come again with another title challenging team.

“The referee is now the talk of the meeting and there were appalling decisions and inconsistency. I completely expected it and knew what we were going to be battling against, but we also threw some points away from overtrying and inexperience at times. We can learn from that going into next season but there is nothing we can do about tonight now. We have just got to get on with it.

“Track conditions were difficult but both teams went out there and put on the best show you could in the circumstances. I think it was a great showcase for play-off speedway and massive congratulations to Leicester, they are a great bunch of boys who I have a lot of respect for and good luck to them in the final. I am sure whoever they are up against will face a very stern test.

“Tom was our man of the meeting and was superb. What a talent he is for British speedway and what a professional young rider. I’m sure my phone will be lit up with another hundred messages telling me we need to make him a permanent Witch!

“It is a season of what could have been, but we have provided so many highlights with lots of away wins. It has been a brilliant team to work with and it has been a great season in lots of ways with these boys. Every single one of them and the mechanics have been superb to work with, so a big thank you to them. Thank you to our amazing fanbase, their loyal support is unwavering even through the tough times, they are there week in week out home and away. As a club it is amazing to be a part of and thank you to Chris (Louis) for giving me that opportunity.”

LEICESTER 51: Max Fricke © 13+3, Richard Lawson 11+1, Sam Masters 11+1, Luke Becker 8+2, Ryan Douglas R/R, Lewi Kerr (G) 7, Sam Hagon (RS) 1+1. Team Manager: Stewart Dickson

IPSWICH 39: Jan Kvěch (G) 4, Danny King © 2, Keynan Rew 3, Tom Brennan (G) 11+1, Adam Ellis 8+2, Ashton Boughen (G) 3, Dan Thompson (RS) 8. Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins

Referee: C. Turnbull