SHEFFIELD suffered their first home defeat of the season as they narrowly lost 46-44 to league leaders Ipswich.

It was a contest which was as close as many anticipated in the build up with no more than two points ever separating the two sides.

The Tru7 Group Tigers edged in front for the second time with a 5-1 maximum in Heat Nine but successive 4-2s for the visitors in Heats 11 and 12 saw them retake the lead.

Tai Woffinden won Heat 13, but an extremely rare last place for Jack Holder around Owlerton meant the Tigers were unable to claw anything back.

Josh Pickering, again, came up with the goods in Heat 14, but Dan Gilkes was passed by reserve counterpart Keynan Rew for third.

Woffinden claimed his fourth victory of the night in the last heat decider, but Ipswich’s top two Emil Sayfutdinov and Jason Doyle kept Chris Holder at bay to head back to Suffolk with the two league points.

The Tru7 Group Tigers are next in action on Thursday (May 16, 7.30pm) when they travel to King’s Lynn.

SHEFFIELD 44: Tai Woffinden 14, Chris Holder 11, Jack Holder 8, Josh Pickering 6+1, Dan Gilkes 3, Kyle Howarth 2+1, Luke Killeen 0.
IPSWICH 46: Emil Sayfutdinov 8+1, Jason Doyle 8+1, Keynan Rew 8+1, Dan Thompson 7+1, Adam Ellis 6+1, Ryan Douglas 5+1, Jordan Jenkins 4+2.