Tobi Kroner enjoyed three heat wins

Ipswich Witches avoided a third successive defeat by comprehensively beating Peterborough Panthers 54-38 at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday.

The win was all the more impressive as the Witches were without heat leader Piotr Swiderski because of illness.

It was good all round team performance with four riders scoring double points including guest Rory Schlein.

Tobi Kroner ended a disappointing run of form with 11 plus one and was named rider of the meeting.

The modest German paid tribute to Schlein on BBC Radio Suffolk: "It's hard to replace Piotr Swiderski at the moment because he's scoring massive points for us but he did a brilliant job."

"It was a good team performance, everyone put in the extra effort to come back on track.

"That's what we needed and that will hopefully push us forward for the next meetings."

Ipswich are currently fourth in the Elite League table but Kroner is aiming for more than the play-offs: "If we go out of the season with nothing everyone will find it really hard.

"We are in this place now so we must go forward, not just the play-offs, I think we can win the league, we want to take something home."

The Witches next meeting is away to Poole on Wednesday, 9 June.