Birmingham Brummies v Sheffield Tigers

Report

SHEFFIELD ended a four-match losing sequence on the road with a hard-fought 47-43 win at Birmingham on Monday.

The result narrowed the gap at the top of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership with the defending champions now five points behind leaders Ipswich with one match in hand.

They had to overturn an early deficit at Perry Barr and were taken to a last-heat decider after a Brummies 5-1 in Heat 14.

But the visiting pair managed to keep home captain Fredrik Lindgren at the back of Heat 15 to secure the away victory.

Lindgren had earlier scored 13+1 for the Brummies with guest Zach Cook notching 10, whilst Max Fricke stood in for Tai Woffinden for Sheffield and scored 12.

Tigers boss Simon Stead said: “I felt having gate choice in Heat 15 could prove vital and that did prove to be the case.

“We just had to make sure we didn’t finish last and Jack and Max rode well together to make sure that didn’t happen and got us over the line.

“It is difficult getting the right guests but it’s something we’ve been doing pretty well lately; Max was brilliant for us and he fitted into the team really well.”

Birmingham manager Sam Ermolenko said: “Freddie had the choice of taking gate two or four in Heat 15, he let Zach have two which was the better gate and he did great. Freddie battled hard but just couldn’t get over.

“We’re still working on building a solid team and when you’re patching things up with guest riders and not having your 1-7 it is hard.

“It’s hard to get it consistent at the moment, we’re still working on it, and when it does click we’ll be a force.”

BIRMINGHAM 43: Fredrik Lindgren 13+1, Zach Cook 10, Wiktor Lampart 7, Tom Brennan 5+1, Michael Palm Toft 3+1, Paco Castagna 3+1, Leon Flint 2.
SHEFFIELD 47: Max Fricke 12, Jack Holder 8+2, Jason Edwards 7+2, Chris Holder 7+1, Josh Pickering 5, Dan Gilkes 5, Kyle Howarth 3+2.

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Photo credit: BEN WHITEHOUSE