The 2017 Knockout Cup is a new competition format; the top four teams from each region’s league division one ride a 32 heat fours match with a A team of the highest heat averages from the season, and a B team.
As League winners, Ipswich hosted the South + South East match. Ipswich and Great Blakenham exchanged the lead several times and were never more than 3 points apart, until an unlucky fallen rider and a tapes exclusion cost Blakenham valuable points. Hellingly and Hethersett contested the third and fourth spots, taking more heat wins later on as the two Suffolk clubs focused on containing each other.
Ipswich ran out eventual winners, and will contest the KO National Final next week at Coventry against the other regional winners; Wednesfield, Newport and Astley and Tyldesley. #COYE !!!!
Final scores: Ipswich 100, Great Blakenham 92, Hellingly 67, Hethersett 59
