Leicester Lions v Sheffield Tigers

Report

LEICESTER took another step towards the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership play-offs with a 48-42 win over Sheffield in Monday’s televised clash.

The meeting went ahead despite a huge thunderstorm over Beaumont Park in late afternoon, and after additional work on the start-line the two teams served up a competitive spectacle.

Lions skipper Max Fricke overcame a strong challenge from Jack Holder to combine with Sam Masters for a crucial 5-1 in Heat 13, and former Tigers captain Kyle Howarth secured the victory against his former club by heading Josh Pickering in the next race.

Fricke kept up his sensational run of form with 16+1 from six rides and Masters collected 13+1, whilst Holder (10+1) and Pickering (10) led the way for the visitors.

Leicester manager Stewart Dickson said: “You do get those conditions with natural watering, but if anyone had seen the track at 4.30pm they wouldn’t have believed how it turned out.

“I’m glad we got the meeting on, you’re always glad when you win! The track rode very well, and we’ll live and learn by what happened at the starts, but the rest of the track was really good.

“We got the win by six points and considering that several riders weren’t on top of their game it’s a good result, and we also have to admit that Sheffield were a lot better than they were on their last two visits.”

Tigers boss Simon Stead said: “It was a much stronger team performance than we’d shown on our last couple of visits.

“When you look down the scorechart you can see that throughout, and that’s why we reached 40+ points this time around.

“Of course we didn’t get a win, but it’s certainly another step in the right direction.”

LEICESTER 48: Max Fricke 16+1, Sam Masters 13+1, Kyle Howarth 9, Ryan Douglas 8+2, Joe Thompson 1+1, Drew Kemp 1, Luke Becker r/r.
SHEFFIELD 42: Jack Holder 10+1, Josh Pickering 10, Chris Holder 7, Anders Rowe 5+1, Justin Sedgmen 4+2, Leon Flint 4+1, Lewis Kerr 2+2.

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Photo credit: STEVE DIXON