TIGERS END ON TOP

SHEFFIELD rounded off their ROWE Motor Oil Premiership campaign with a thumping 57-33 win over Grand Finalists Ipswich at Owlerton.

The result takes the Tigers to the top of the table on race points difference from the Witches, although their title hopes were already over after their narrow play-off defeat to Leicester earlier in the week.

Former World Champion Chris Holder scored a paid maximum (12+3) whilst Anders Rowe (12+2) , Josh Pickering (12) and Jack Holder (10+1) were also in double figures for a dominant home side.

The Witches were limited to just four race wins, with guest Chris Harris top scoring on seven points, but they did come through unscathed with the Grand Final approaching.

Tigers manager Simon Stead said: “We wanted to finish off strongly. Obviously the play-offs were disappointing but we picked ourselves up like we have done all season.

“For us, it was really important to give the supporters a big performance and a big result as a thank you for the support they’ve given us all season.

“The Sheffield support is second to none and the backing we get both home and away means a lot to the lads.”

Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “We came through with no injuries and obviously it wasn’t a great result. Apart from Jason Edwards all the boys were so far off it with set-ups at the start of the meeting, they were all over the place.

“Everyone made changes and got better but realistically we were not making good enough starts and were losing so much ground on the opening lap, and you will never be able to pull that back.

“The main objective was to get through the meeting unharmed, ready to attack the Final in ten days.”

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Photo credit: CHARLOTTE FLANIGAN