Ipswich Witches 56, Oxford Silver Machine 38: Oxford Silver Machine proved no match for the Witches at Foxhall Heath last night.

The home side restricted bottom club Oxford to just two heat victories.

As feared, Silver Machine went into the meeting without influential skipper Greg Hancock, who injured a wrist in a crash at the Grand Prix at Cardiff on Saturday.

Hancock had X-rays yesterday and has returned to Sweden for further diagnosis, but it may be an old scaphoid problem.

Promoter Nigel Wagstaff brought in Eastbourne ace David Norris as guest and Lubo Tomicek was drafted in at reserve in place of Tomasz Bajerski.

There was no Stefan Andersson again and rider-replacement was used in his absence.

The first four heats were all re-run due to falls on the troublesome surface.

A nasty-looking smash saw Niels Kristian Iversen put straight through the flimsy wooden barrier on to the banger racing track after being hit by Daniel King, who was excluded.

Luckily, Iversen was fit enough for the re-run and he pushed Piotr Protasiewicz all the way in heat four.

The Witches piled up the heat wins, forcing Wagstaff to use Iversen in a tactical ride when they were 24-12 in arrears after seven heats.

Protasiewicz ruined the move, but Oxford took a 5-3 heat advantage as Jesper B Jensen slowed to allow Iversen, the double points scorer, through.

Travis McGowan was also used as a tactical rider in heat eight, but he had no answer to Robert Miskowiak, who went a mile clear.

A first win of the night for Norris brought Oxford within six points of the Witches at 32-26.

But the top Ipswich duo of Miskowiak and Hans Andersen rammed in an easy 5-1 to stretch their lead soon after.

Oxford shared the next two heats, but their fate was sealed in heat 13.

pswich: Protasiewicz 15, Miskowiak 11, Louis 11, Andersen 9, Jansson 5, Baran 4, King 1. 56 pts.

Oxford: Norris 10, Iversen 10, Gustafsson 7+2, McGowan 6+2, Jensen 4+3, Tomicek 1. 38 pts.