Sheffield Tigers v Belle Vue Aces

Report

BELLE Vue took a giant step towards the Premiership Grand Final with a 50-40 first leg win at Sheffield – despite being without second heat-leader Brady Kurtz.

The Australian was absent after a crash in the Czech Republic on Sunday and No.1 Dan Bewley remarkably started the meeting with three last places, but the Aces still triumphed with a terrific team effort.

Captain Steve Worrall led the way with 12 points whilst brother Richie returned to the side after injury with 11+1, and Charles Wright added 11+2. Jack Holder top-scored for the Tigers with 12.

Steve Worrall said: “It was a fantastic effort from all the boys tonight and after losing Brady at the last minute, there were no hesitations – everyone really stepped up their game.

“If you had asked me beforehand if I’d be happy to take a 10-point lead home, I’d have said yes, but to actually have that 10-point advantage is amazing. I mean, what more could you want?

“This is only the half-way stage. We’ve got to do the same, if not better, at home but I’m quietly confident, with that performance, that we can bring it home.”

Sheffield star Josh Pickering (8+1) said: “Belle Vue came here and had a good one tonight. They were a bit sharper out of the starts than we were and of course we’re disappointed to lose at home.

“But there’s no reason why we can’t turn it around and do the same to them at Belle Vue.”

The second leg takes place in Manchester on Thursday, with that night also seeing the re-arrangement of Peterborough v Wolverhampton after their second leg was a late victim of the weather on Monday.

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Photo credit: IAN CHARLES