LIONS TOP AFTER DERBY WIN

SAM Masters scored a paid maximum as Leicester moved to the top of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership table with a 53-37 win over Birmingham.

The Lions took advantage of the postponement of the Ipswich/Sheffield fixture to leapfrog their rivals, as they also collected the aggregate point following their victory at Perry Barr last week.

Masters, with 13+2, was unbeaten from five rides, whilst captain Max Fricke notched 13+1 as he dropped his only point to Vaclav Milik in Heat 1.

Milik was one of four race winners for the Brummies, who were only four points adrift after Heat 8, but they conceded two 5-1s in the last three races. Captain Steve Worrall top scored with 8+1.

Leicester manager Stewart Dickson said: “It was fairly convincing in the end, but I did say beforehand that Birmingham would score more than in their home match, regardless of the abandonment there, because I know they’ve got guys who can ride this place from the Championship.

“But from a Leicester point of view we’ve got the three points that were on offer, Max and Sam were really strong at the top, and we thoroughly deserved it.”

Birmingham boss Sam Ermolenko said: “I can see the passion. There was talent on our side shown and that’s given us some belief.

“We just couldn’t find the perfect combinations when chasing set-ups for them to be consistent.

“But there were positives and I want the riders to focus on those for when we go back to our home track.”

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Photo credit: PHIL McGLYNN