Sheffield Tigers v Ipswich Witches

SHEFFIELD overcame a strong early challenge from Ipswich to open their ROWE Motor Oil Premiership account with a 52-38 win at Owlerton.

Remarkably the first eight races of the meeting all ended 3-3, before the Tigers established the advantage with back-to-back 5-1s.

However, the Witches fought back and the home side did not secure victory until a win for Leon Flint in Heat 14, before Josh Pickering and Jack Holder raced to a 5-1 in the re-run of Heat 15.

That race was initially to feature Chris Holder, who did not take his place after a crash with Danny King, whilst Jye Etheridge was a withdrawal for the Tigers with a wrist injury.

Chris Holder therefore ended with a four-ride paid maximum (11+1) whilst brother Jack (10+3) and Pickering (11+1) were both in the major points. King top-scored for the Witches with 11+2.

Pickering said: “Ipswich are a strong side with the way they’re built, and we were up against tough opposition.

“But credit to the track staff; they had a little bit more dirt to play with tonight and it probably suited me.

“Once we get a few home meetings on the bounce and get the starts exactly how we want them, and the track, I feel we can be a force to be reckoned with once again.”

Ipswich boss Paul Hurry said: “It’s just disappointing when you hold them for that long and you lose by that many. It’s alright entertaining people, but when the result goes in our favour, it’s better.

“We stuck in there for quite a while. It’s just that sometimes in those final heats on the bigger tracks, when the home boys get their set-ups dialled in and keep their wheels in line, we just miss out.”

ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1
SHEFFIELD 52: Chris Holder 11+1, Josh Pickering 11+1, Jack Holder 10+3, Anders Rowe 7+2, Leon Flint 6, Luke Killeen 5+1, Jye Etheridge 2
IPSWICH 38: Danny King 11+2, Tobiasz Musielak 8, Richard Lawson 5+2, Scott Nicholls 5, Tom Brennan 5, Jason Edwards 4+1, Daniel Klima 0

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Photo credit: MIA DURKIN