TIGERS THROUGH IN EPIC SEMI

SHEFFIELD are through to the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Grand Final – but only after surviving a huge scare in an incredible second leg at Leicester.

Guest Max Fricke and Josh Pickering came out on top in a dramatic Super Heat after the aggregate scores were tied at 90-90, sending the Tigers into the decider against Belle Vue.

The visitors were 24 points up from their home leg at Owlerton last week but they faced a Lions onslaught back in the East Midlands with home Rising Star Joe Thompson producing the performance of his career.

With ten heats of the second leg complete the Lions had wiped out the deficit, with a nip-and-tuck battle then seeing Sheffield edge back ahead with a 4-2 in Heat 11 only for that to immediately be cancelled out in the next race.

The last three heats on the night were all shared, before Fricke won the Super Heat ahead of Ryan Douglas with Pickering crucially moving inside Nick Morris for third place.

Thompson racked up 14+1 from six rides for the Lions with Douglas on 13+1 and Morris on 11+4, whilst Fricke scored 13 for the Tigers.

Sheffield manager Simon Stead said: “That is an amazing achievement from where we were halfway through this meeting – we were really on the back foot.

“I’m proud of them; they had to dig deep, there were a couple of really big results in there that stemmed the flow a little bit, but it was just hard work.

“Our middle order and our reserves were struggling early on and I know they’re disappointed, but what I would say is that they picked up some crucial points at Sheffield that put us in this position. All that matters is that we’re into that Final and we now get to dust ourselves off and go again.”

Lions boss Stewart Dickson said: “Proud is the word the immediately comes to the forefront. All six of them put in a sterling performance in the absence of Dan Thompson (training injury) and I hope none of them feel disappointed.

“None of them have let the team down or anything like that – they got us back into that position. But the closer you get, the bigger the disappointment and that was always the worry.

“Entertainment wise, engagement wise, that was a proper speedway contest. It’s just a shame we couldn’t quite get it done for Leicester – but I do wish Sheffield all the best in the Final.”

Sheffield will host the first leg of the Grand Final against Belle Vue next Thursday (October 8) with the return in Manchester on Monday October 12.

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Photo credit: MIA DURKIN