TIGERS WIN DECIDER

SHEFFIELD edged out Ipswich 48-42 in a tense Owlerton contest which went down to a last-heat decider.

Jack Holder and Adam Ellis secured a 5-1 for the home side in the final race as they got the better of Jake Allen and Craig Cook after the visitors had cut an eight-point deficit to just two.

Holder scored 13 points for the Tigers and Ellis added 9+1, whilst Allen (10) and Cook (9+1) were top scorers for the Witches who picked up a league point on the road for the second time this week.

Sheffield boss Simon Stead said: “It was everything I thought it would be, it was tough.

“I know Ipswich are a good side with some quality riders and I expected them to push us hard which is what they did. It was a bit tense.

“We paid the price for a lack of meetings, we’ve not had a lot. I still think we look rusty in certain areas. We will work with the team and try and get what we need to win more meetings.”

Witches manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “I thought it was another great effort by the boys. We could have easily tailed off after we went eight points down, but after their first rides everybody changed something and put it right and it was another great effort from the lads to take it to a last-heat decider.

“I am really pleased with them tonight; it is another point on the road and another improvement. To come here and put in that performance following on from Monday was a great effort, and it is good progress.”

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Photo credit: CHARLOTTE FLANIGAN