BULLISH King's Lynn head to Ipswich on Thursday (7.30) hopeful of going one better than April’s fruitful trip.
The Minors & Brady Stars came away with three Premiership League Cup points from a 46-44 success at Foxhall Heath earlier in the campaign having already sealed a place in the final by beating the Witches at home.
And while team boss Alex Brady admits that the inclusion of ex-Star Erik Riss adds an extra threat, he believes his in-form side should be eyeing a bonus point – awarded for winning away matches by seven points or more – in Suffolk.
“We went well there last time but even then, I didn’t feel like we won by as many as we should have,” said Brady.
“We came away with three points but we are going there fully intent on coming back with all four this time.
“They will be a slightly different beast this time with Erik (Riss) riding, I know he is keen to get one over on us so there will be that extra challenge and a bit of spice but it is nothing we cannot handle.”
Captain Josh Pickering also listed plenty of reasons for optimism.
“We have a team that goes really well there,” he said.
“Richard (Lawson) had a year there in the past and knows the place really well, Richie (Worrall) goes well there too, Lewis (Kerr) is on fire and Jack (Thomas) put on a great performance last time. I didn’t really do a lot and will be looking to change that.
“We have to win, we are going there for all four points and that is the mentality we will travel with.
“The goals can change as the night goes on but going into it, our seven riders are much better than their seven in my opinion. Hopefully we can go there, make starts and win races.”
Pickering’s stint at number one lasted just one meeting due to June’s green sheet averages pushing Richard Lawson up to top spot.
The partnerships that have served the Stars so well early on have been maintained by a shuffled riding order with Lewis Kerr moved to number two to pair up with Lawson. Niels-Kristian Iversen rides at three with Thomas Jorgensen at four and at his side for much of the night. Pickering moves back to number five.
Danyon Hume continues in Ipswich’s rising star berth. Paul Starke recently aggravated a wrist injury and if he is declared unfit to ride, rider replacement will operate.
IPSWICH: Jason Doyle, Paul Starke, Danny King, Erik Riss, Troy Batchelor, Ben Barker, Danyon Hume. KING’S LYNN: Richard Lawson, Lewis Kerr, Niels-Kristian Iversen, Thomas Jorgensen, Josh Pickering, Richie Worrall, Jack Thomas.
