GRAND FINAL PREVIEW: Ipswich Witches v Swindon Robins

SWINDON ROBINS travel to Foxhall Stadium tonight facing Ipswich Witches in the first leg of the Premiership Grand Final. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker previews the eagerly anticipated clash.

Rain delays have played their part in the conclusion of this year’s Great British Premiership season but tonight finally see’s the two best sides in Britain battle it out for a chance of becoming Premiership champions. 

Ipswich cemented their place in the final over two weeks ago, proving to be the surprise package in their 94-86 aggregate victory over current reigning champions the Poole Pirates. 

However, the Witches riders have had to wait patiently as rain delays caused countless postponements between Swindon and Wolverhampton. 

Swindon secured their place as finalists after dominating proceedings over two legs beating the Wolverhampton Wolves with ease in what was a 107-71 aggregate victory. 

But tonight will be a different test for Alun Rossiter’s Robins as they travel to Ipswich with the pressure of being favourites over the two legs. 

Swindon have been nothing short of sensational this season and their comfortable beating of Wolverhampton demonstrated the ruthlessness of this Robins side. Jason Doyle will once again lead Swindon into a Premiership grand final after lifting the title in 2017, and he will be confident of tasting trophy success once again with the Wiltshire outfit. 

Ipswich will be relishing the chance of lifting the league title at the first time of asking after they moved up to the elite level of British speedway this season, and they will be confident of securing an aggregate advantage tonight after beating Swindon 42-48 at tonight’s venue already this season. 

Denmark’s Niels-Kristian Iversen will be critical to the success of Ipswich after he arrived as the team’s number one at the start of September.

A quick look at both team’s averages shows Swindon to be far superior over tonight’s competitors, but with a host of top talent including Danny King, Chris Harris, and Richard Lawson, Ipswich have the strength in depth to challenge the Robins over the two legs. 

The outcome of the meeting however will likely focus on the performances of both sets of reserves. Both Claus Vissing and Ellis Perks performed admirably over the two legs of the semi-finals, with Vissing in particular scoring strongly in the return leg at the Abbey Stadium.

However in the form of Jake Allen, Ipswich hold possibly the leagues strongest reserve. Allen impressed in the clubs semi-final victory of the Poole Pirates scoring 22+1 points over the two meetings and he will be quietly confident of scoring well around his home track tonight. 

Tonight’s fixture marks the first time that these two sides have met in a league final, and Swindon will be expected to wrap up their third title in seven seasons against a Witches side that narrowly scraped into the playoffs. 

But this is grand final speedway and anything can happen as the chequered flag is waved for the final few times this season. 

Prediction: 48-42