SHEFFIELD are through to their second successive cup final in the top-flight having scraped past Wolverhampton in an enthralling two-legged tie.
The Tru Plant Tigers were beaten 52-38 in the West Midlands, but got the job done 92-88 on aggregate following a tense night at Monmore Green.
Despite heading to the Black Country with an 18 point advantage, the Tigers knew they still had work to do with Wolves boasting a 100 per cent home record - and when David Bellego was ruled out having crashed on the continent over the weekend, they only had a six man team to do it.
Simon Stead’s side conceded three heat advantages in the opening three races and the gap was reduced to ten points on aggregate.
Sheffield’s top two stepped up to the plate though with Jack Holder and then Tobiasz Musielak leading successive 4-2s to seemingly settle things down somewhat.
The hosts refused to give in though and kept plugging away - and they took full advantage of having an extra man in the re-run of Heat Ten after Adam Ellis experienced a horrible looking collision with the air fence.
Either side of that, Holder and Musielak came up with important race wins but when Wolves struck another 5-1 in Heat 12, Tigers were just four points ahead overall.
That’s where the Sheffield spearhead demonstrated their class again though as Musielak and Holder raced to a maximum of their own.
And when Ellis ended his night on a high by taking the chequered flag in the penultimate race, the Tru Plant Tigers had done enough to make it through to the final of the Sports Insure Premiership Knockout Cup.
Attentions turn back to league action this Thursday (June 22, 7.30) when they go head-to-head with Leicester at Owlerton.
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP, SEMI-FINAL, 2nd leg WOLVERHAMPTON 52: Steve Worrall 14+1, Zach Cook 11+2, Sam Masters 9+2, Ryan Douglas 8+1, Luke Becker 5+1, Rory Schlein 4, Leon Flint 1. SHEFFIELD 38: Tobiasz Musielak 10, Jack Holder 9+1, Kyle Howarth 8+1, Lewis Kerr 5, Adam Ellis 5, Dan Gilkes 1+1, David Bellego R/R. Sheffield win 92-88 on aggregate.
