Nearly three weeks have gone since Ipswich Witches got through to the UK Premiership final. And now, after three cancelled matches between Wolverhampton Wolves and Swindon Robins, the Witches finally know who they will face after torrential rain caused havoc to the British speedway schedule.
Match 1, Wolverhampton, 9 Oct
The weather threatened to ruin this match too, but in the end the second semifinal got underway in a wet Wolvehampton on Wednesday. The visitors took an early lead when Musielak and Rasmus Jensen picked up a 1:5 in heat 3, but the Wolves would come back and narrowly lead the tie between Heats 5 and 10.
On a night with many falls, it would be three spills from Wolves' riders in heats 13 and 14 that would cost them dearly and separate the teams by the end of the night as the Robins were able to take a 1:10 advantage in those two heats.
Wolves' top scorers were Australians Rory Schlein (10) and Sam Masters (8+2) whilst countryman 2017 World Champion Jason Doyle (11+1, pictured) and Pole Tobiasz Musielak (11) lead for the Robins.
Swindon Robins took the tie 39-49 and went to their home ground, where they have not been defeated in 2019, as favourites.
Match 2, Swindon, 10 Oct
Many had tipped Wolves to edge the first match at home, but instead they came to this decider 10 points down and needed to put in a spectacular performance.
But instead it was the home side who put the match to bed early with four 5:1s in just the first six heats. Doyle took two wins on his way to a 12 point maximum on the night for the Robins.
Wolves finally took their first heat advantages in heats 8 and 9 as first Brit Kyle Howarth and then Swede Jacob Thorsell lead the team in two 2-4 victories.
But any hope of a late comeback were squashed as soon as Doyle was back on the track for Heat 10 and took his third 5:1 victory.
Howarth had a bad match in the first semi, but more than made up for it leading the Wolves with an impressive 10+2. But with the match beyond the visitors, it was perhaps hard to find the motivation to race and the Robins took full advantage.
It finished 58-32 on the night and a convincing 107-71 overall. Apart from Doyle, Swindon had two riders in double figures on Thursday as Troy Batchelor took 13+1, just one short of a maximum and Brit, Adam Ellis collected 10+4 behind the rampant Doyle.
The final will take place with the first match on Monday 14 October in Ipswich and then the second match in Swindon next Thursday 17 October, of course, weather permitting!
