Sheffield Cubs v Leicester Lion Cubs

Report

LEICESTER have all-but clinched the WSRA National Development Leage title after a dramatic 46-44 win at Sheffield.

Captain Joe Thompson was the Lion Cubs’ hero at Owlerton as he took the vital Heat 15 ahead of home stars Nathan Ablitt (13) and Luke Harrison (10+2) to make it eight out of eight this season for the leaders.

That completed a comeback from six points down as Leicester carded 5-1s in Heats 12 and 14 with reserve Max James (14+1) instrumental along with Thompson’s 14 points.

It means the Lion Cubs’ 19-point total of league points cannot be overtaken, and the only team who can match that are Oxford whose race points difference is inferior by 107.

Manager Dave Howard said: “The first 11 races were a bit of a nightmare night, but we were still kind of in it.

“But those last four races were a fantastic finish from the guys and they’ve put us on the verge of the title.

“Joe has been in the team since we started in 2019 and it was quite fitting he played the part he did tonight.”

Sheffield co-boss Paul Tatam said: “The lads did very well, they were brilliant. Heat 6, Mickie (Simpson) blew an engine and then Ace crashed in Heat 14 whilst we were on a 4-2 – if those two things don’t happen, we’d have been the first team to beat them.

“Had we gone into Heat 15 four up, I’d have fancied our chances and based on the result, we’d have got over the line.

“But I couldn’t ask for much more from the lads, it was a great effort all considered.”

SHEFFIELD 44: Nathan Ablitt 13, Luke Harrison 10+2, Ace Pijper 8, Mickie Simpson 6+1, Kean Dicken 4+1, Stene Pijper 3+1, Jamie Etherington 0.
LEICESTER 46: Max James 14+1, Joe Thompson 14, Arran Butcher 10+1, Tom Spencer 5+2, Luke Crang 3+3, Sonny Springer 0, Vinnie Foord r/r.
Leicester win the aggregate point

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Photo credit: CHARLOTTE FLANIGAN