IPSWICH Evening Star Witches rider of the season Hans Andersen believes that the team is too good not to win a trophy.The Great Dane easily topped a poll run by the Evening Star in conjunction with Anglia Self Drive and was presented with his trophy during last night's meeting at Foxhall Stadium.

IPSWICH Evening Star Witches rider of the season Hans Andersen believes that the team is too good not to win a trophy.

The Great Dane easily topped a poll run by the Evening Star in conjunction with Anglia Self Drive and was presented with his trophy during last night's meeting at Foxhall Stadium.

But Andersen knows that it will take a superhuman effort if the Witches are to beat Elite League champions Poole Pirates on aggregate and win the Knock-Out Cup after a 48-42 victory in the first leg.

“Poole will be strong favourites to win on aggregate now,” said Andersen. “But we have not given up, and we are too good a side to finish the season empty-handed.

“This team was assembled well and it might not be able to be kept together in 2005.

“We still have a chance and there are 15 heats left in our season. We have to make the most of them - and we can.”

Andersen is a Poole asset and his knowledge of the Wimborne Road track will hold him in good stead for the second leg on Sunday week.

Less than two months ago Andersen was on the receiving end of hate mail from some Ipswich fans after the well-publicised final heat of the world cup final at Poole.

Now he is the toast of the town after a string in impressive performances.

“I am not a better rider because of what happened, but I have shown how strong I can be. Some riders would have wilted and drifted away under the pressure I found myself.

“It is always nice to be honoured by other people and it is big thing for me to be voted for by the fans.”

Last night was Andersen's last at Foxhall this year as he plans to attend next Thursday's 16-Lap Classic, but will not be riding.

“That is not for me, but I will do some laps afterwards to keep race fit for the Poole meeting the following Sunday,” added Andersen, who felt heat ten could have been re-started.

“I was pushed into the fence by Antonio Lindback and could easily have gone down and gained a re-run. But that is not my style.

“We did not have the best of luck last night, but we still have one last chance to make something of the season.

“With everybody firing we can still do it, and reward the Ipswich supporters for their faith.”

Andersen gave another example of the good side of his nature by being alongside Daniel King at Wolverhampton last Monday when the youngster won the British Under-18 title.

“Daniel appreciated my help in the pits,” said Andersen, who rides in a Swedish three-day indoor meeting this weekend and is a definite starter for next Friday's Supporters Club end-of-season dinner dance at Ipswich Town FC.