Sheffield Tigers v King’s Lynn Stars

Report

SHEFFIELD moved top of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership table but only after a huge scare against King’s Lynn in a 47-43 win at Owlerton.

The Tigers held a comfortable eight-point lead after nine races but were stunned by a hat-trick of Stars 5-1s in Heats 10-12 to put the visitors four up with three races remaining.

However, Jack and Chris Holder got the home side over the line with 5-1s in Heats 13 and 15 to neutralise the effect of the Stars’ high-scoring reserve Jan Kvech and grind out a victory.

Kvech racked up 16 points from seven rides for the visitors and Chris Harris added 10+2, whilst the crucial support for the Holders (Chris 12+2, Jack 11+2) came from Rising Star Leon Flint who scored 11.

Tigers boss Simon Stead said: “It might not have been as convincing but we got it over the line, got the points and that’s the most important thing.

“This was always a potential banana skin fixture for us with us not being at home for so long plus Picko (Josh Pickering – shoulder injury) has, statistically, been our best rider around Owlerton so far this season.

“We did miss him a lot but thankfully the rest of the lads did enough collectively to get the job done.”

King’s Lynn manager Rob Lyon said: “We just lost out in the very final race against the two Holder boys who made unbelievable starts off gates two and four which were clearly the worst gates.

“But that’s the way it is and credit to those boys for pulling it off for Sheffield.

“I’m pleased with the effort and four points is more than achievable to get back at home in the return leg in a couple of weeks.”

SHEFFIELD 47: Chris Holder 12+2, Jack Holder 11+2, Leon Flint 11, Anders Rowe 7, Lewi Kerr 5+1, Justin Sedgmen 1+1, Josh Pickering r/r.
KING’S LYNN 43: Jan Kvech 16, Chris Harris 10+2, Nicolai Klindt 8+1, Richard Lawson 4+1, Niels-Kristian Iversen 3+1, Luke Harrison 2, Ben Cook r/r.

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Photo credit: CHARLOTTE FLANIGAN