Eastbourne staged a late rally at Foxhall Stadium last night to grab an unlikely Elite League point as they went down 49-43 against Ipswich.

The Eagles are still searching for their first victory, and once Ipswich took the lead in heat seven this never looked likely against the Witches.

But with the home side having built up a ten point lead after ten races, it looked like being a barren night for Trevor Geer’s men.

Matej Zagar, who was on one of the last planes to land at Gatwick yesterday before the airport was closed, finished second when riding for double points in the following race.

Another drawn heat followed with Ricky Kling and Lukas Dryml filling the minor places behind Daniel King after Carl Wilkinson took a tumble before Eastbourne showed some grit to gain 4-2 heat advantages in races 13 and 14.

Zagar won heat 13 ahead of Scott Nicholls with Joonas Kylmakorpi in third place, and then Cameron Woodward took the chequered flag ahead of Olly Allen with Chris Schramm getting the better of Richie Hawkins at the back.

The Eagles needed at least a 3-3 in the final race to earn a point and although Nicholls shot off into the distance, Zagar and Kylmakorpi were able to keep comfortably ahead of King.

The decision to suspend air travel over Great Britain yesterday following the Icelandic volcanic action meant Ipswich were without their three Polish riders while Eagles used Chris Schramm in place of their Pole Dawid Lampart.

Scorers : Ipswich: S Nicholls 16, C Vissing 6+1, D King 14, O Allen 6+1, rider replacement for R. Miskowiak, R Hawkins 7+1, C Wilkinson 0.

Eastbourne: M Zagar 14, S Gustafsson 2+1, L Dryml 5+1, C Woodward 5+1, J Kylmakorpi 9+1, R Kling 4, C Schramm 4+2.

Gustafsson goes back to basics - in The Argus today