Sheffield Tigers v Birmingham Brummies

Report

SHEFFIELD are back on top of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership after a hard-fought 50-40 win over Birmingham at Owlerton.

The Tigers went into the fixture operating rider replacement for No.1 Jack Holder, who was ruled out at short notice due to a family emergency.

It took the home side until Heat 14 to secure victory with the Brummies putting in a much -improved performance compared to their previous visit to South Yorkshire.

The Tigers’ top two of Chris Holder and Josh Pickering were both in fine form with 16 and 14+1 respectively, whilst for the visitors Tobiasz Musielak scored well on his old home track with 14+1, and British Under-21 Champion Sam Hagon enjoyed his best night in the top-flight with 8+1 from the Rising Star berth.

Sheffield boss Simon Stead said: “It was important to get back to winning ways.

“It was under difficult circumstances again – but some things are more important, and Jack’s family comes first and we send them our best wishes.

“The fact we managed to get a result without him is a bonus.”

Hagon said: “Sheffield’s a bit like Belle Vue, it’s a hard place to go to – but we did better away against them than we did at home recently.

“Ten down at Sheffield’s not too bad considering they’ve still got Pickering and Holder who do go very well around here.”

SHEFFIELD 50: Chris Holder 16, Josh Pickering 14+1, Anders Rowe 9+1, Lewis Kerr 6+1, Will Cairns 3, Justin Sedgmen 2+1, Jack Holder r/r.
BIRMINGHAM 40: Tobiasz Musielak 14+1, Sam Hagon 8+1, Matej Zagar 7+1, Jonas Jeppesen 7+1, Ben Barker 2+2, Paco Castagna 2, Keynan Rew r/r.

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Photo credit: CHARLOTTE FLANIGAN

* Watch action from Heat 10 (courtesy of CLEAN CUT SPORTS)