Rain caused havoc with fixtures in the UK last week but between downpours the Ipswich Witches and Poole Pirates managed to find a couple of dry hours on Thursday and Saturday to complete their semi final match.
The Pirates were favourites to get through to the final, but they started their home fixture in disastrous style already down 18-30 by Heat 8.
But in a remarkable game of two halves, the Pirates' Australian contingent of Brady Kurtz, Jack Holder and Josh Grajczonek as well as Swedish new signing Tomas Jonasson saved the home side to finish off the race ahead, 50-40. Ipswich's top scorer was another Australian, reserve, Jake Allen with 9.
So, the Pirates travelled to Ipswich on Saturday with a 10 point lead and the psychological advantage of coming from behind to take the first match. But sadly, one of their top riders from the first game, Jack Holder crashed in Heat 6 of this return match and was unable to take part in the rest of the fixture.
It was another remarkable match as everyone of the first 10 heats ended with a 5:1. By which stage Ipswich were leading 34-26.
So that when Jake Allen and Danny King took a 4:2 for the home side in Heat 11, the score was level on aggregate, 78-78, leading to a dramatic winner-takes-all final four heats.
After a 3:3 in Heat 12 it was Ipswich's captain, King, and SGP rider Niels Kristian Iversen (pictured) who took two Heat advantages with a 5:1 and 4:2 in Heats 13 and 15 to lead Ipswich to a surprise win, 54-36. Therefore Poole will not be defending their title in the final as many had expected.
Ipswich's opponent's have yet to be decided as the remaining semifinal between Swindon Robins and Wolverhampton Wolves has yet to be played. The match due to start on 30 September has already been cancelled and the games are currently due to be played on 3 and 7 October - the latter date being when the first final was due to be start in the rain delayed UK Preimership.
