SHEFFIELD’S Speedway stars rode their luck as they posted a 55-36 Knockout Cup win over Scunthorpe at Owlerton.

The 19-point margin flattered the Sheffield Window Centre-backed side – but it was most welcome with the second leg at Normanby Road on Friday.

Leading by 11 points going into the last three heats, Eric Boocock’s side then looked to be on the receiving end of a hammer blow as the Scorpions pairing of Magnus Karlsson and Richard Hall shot into the lead, with Ricky Ashworth trailing in their wake on a rain-soaked track.

That would have put a serious dent in Sheffield’s advantage going into the return.

But Karlsson sensationally ground to a halt with engine problems going into the last lap to leave former Tiger Hall at the front.

And when Hall fell on the last bend it handed the hosts a lucky 5-1 to prise open a 47-32 gap.

But Sheffield’s good fortune wasn’t finished there as in the next heat Victor Bergstrom shot into the lead for the visitors – only to be hit by more mechanical gremlins on the last lap as Tigers took advantage to hammer in another 5-1.

Hall did make some amends by winning the final race, but Tigers were delighted with the winning margin.

TIGERS: Ricky Ashworth 11+2, Ben Wilson 11+2, Lee Smethills 10+1, Joel Parsons 9, Andre Compton 8+1, Paul Cooper 5, Sam Martin 1.
SCUNTHORPE: Richard Hall 9, Carl Wilkinson 7, Benji Compton 6, Andrew Moore 6, Viktor Bergstrom 4+1, Magnus Karlsson 4, Byron Bekker 0.