Leicester Lions v Sheffield Tigers

PREMIERSHIP KO Cup holders Leicester are through to this season’s Final after overcoming Sheffield 46-44 in a fiery clash on Thursday.

The Lions needed to avoid defeat in the meeting to top the northern group but No.1 Ryan Douglas crashed out in his second ride, and a strong comeback from the Tigers saw them fall just short having been 12 points down.

Leicester’s lead had been extended to double figures in an a dramatic Heat 9 which saw Kyle Howarth and Sheffield skipper Josh Pickering race wheel to wheel for over two laps with Howarth just emerging on top – and the two riders had to be separated after the race.

Dan Thompson held on for second place ahead of Pickering in Heat 15 as he top-scored with 11+1 and ensured a home win on the night, whilst Jack Holder racked up 15+1 from six rides for the visitors.

Leicester boss Stewart Dickson said: “The objective was to get to the Final and we’ve done that. We had one or two problems, including Dougy coming off after he’d looked really good in his first race, and that did have a bit of an effect on us.

“But the team mucked in to cover for him reasonably enough, and obviously we’d have been eight points up if Drew’s (Kemp) chain hadn’t come off in Heat 14, but these things happen in speedway.

“Tonight there was drama and theatre, you get it at ice hockey and wrestling, and as long as it doesn’t go over the top it’s okay. It created an atmosphere, but everybody is going home safely, even Dougy who’s just a bit second hand and shaken.”

Sheffield manager Simon Stead said: “Obviously as a group we’re disappointed to bow out, but the reaction from last Thursday was all you can ask.

“As the manager, as a supporter on the stands, they wanted us to come here and give it our best shot and I think they can see that we gave it everything out there.

“We came up a little bit short, congratulations to Leicester and best wishes to them for the Final, but we now go again, and we concentrate on the league and I think there’s plenty to build on.”

PREMIERSHIP KO CUP (NORTH)
LEICESTER 46: Dan Thompson 11+1, Kyle Howarth 10+1, Nick Morris 6+1, Sam Masters 6, Joe Thompson 5+3, Drew Kemp 5, Ryan Douglas 3.
SHEFFIELD 44: Jack Holder 15+1, Josh Pickering 9+2, Leon Flint 7, Anders Rowe 6, Chris Holder 5, Luke Killeen 2+1, Jye Etheridge 0.
Leicester win the aggregate point.

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Photo credit: STEVE DIXON

Watch the action from Heat 9 (courtesy of LIONS TV) – see below