Somerset Rebels fell to their first defeat of the Premier League Cup campaign when they were beaten 51-44 at Ipswich Witches last night.
The visitors got off to the best possible start with captain Jason Doyle and Alex Davies combining for a 5-1 heat win in the opening race.
Ipswich immediately hit back and took control of the match by posting four successive maximum heat wins to put the Rebels on the back foot.
Somerset couldn't recover from that blow, despite the best efforts of Doyle and Nick Morris.
It was a credit to the side that they fought back to narrowly miss out on leaving Foxhall Stadium with a losing bonus point to their name, despite losing the services of Alex Davies after a heat 11 fall.
"That four-heat salvo of maximum heat wins by Ipswich was our undoing," said Rebels team manager Garry May afterwards.
"That and too many falls and exclusions when in possible points scoring positions.
"But the boys did fight back well and we almost nicked a point at the end, but it wasn't to be.
"Now we have to regroup ready for the visit of Rye House to the Oaktree Arena tonight."
The Rebels host Rye House Rockets at the Oaktree Arena this evening (7.30pm).IPSWICH WITCHES 51-44 SOMERSET REBELS
Ipswich: Ben Barker 8, Jari Mäkinen 1+1, Rohan Tungate 11+1, Morten Risager 8+1, Leigh Lanham 8, Adam Ellis 6+2, Cameron Heeps 9+1.
Somerset: Jason Doyle 15, Alex Davies 3+1, Josh Grajczonek 6+1, Kyle Newman 4, Nick Morris 12, Tom Perry 4+1, Stefan Nielsen 0.
