SHEFFIELD’s Tiger Cubs took league leaders Leicester to a last heat decider before narrowly missing out 46-44.
It was a valiant effort from the Owlerton outfit’s third tier side who put the East Midlanders’ unbeaten record at severe threat throughout an entertaining night of action.
Nathan Ablitt and Mickie Simpson opened with a 4-2 before the visitors hit back in the reserves race.
Brothers Ace and Stene Pijper then combined to restore the Autocraft Tiger Cubs’ two point lead before six shared races followed.
A bit of breathing space opened up when Ablitt and Simpson recorded a 5-1 in Heat Ten with their lead extended to six points.
But by the end of Heat 12 the gap was back at just two points before a major turning point in Heat 14.
Captain for the night Kean Dicken was leading out front whilst Ace Pijper was battling away for third with Arran Butcher.
But Pijper slid off on bends one and two of lap two and a re-run was ordered.
The visitors then took full advantage and bagged their second 5-1 of the contest to move ahead for the very first time.
In the decider, Leicester captain Joe Thompson made an impressive start and Ablitt and Luke Harrison couldn’t reel in the former Premiership Rising Star.
Co-boss Paul Tatam said: “The lads did very well, they were brilliant.
“Heat Six, Mickie (Simpson) blew and engine and then Ace crashed in Heat 14 whilst we were on a 4-2 - if those two things don’t happen, we’d have been the first team to beat them.
“Had we gone into Heat 15 four up, I’d have fancied our chances and based on the result, we’d have got over the line.
“But I couldn’t ask for much more from the lads, it was a great effort all considered.”
The Tiger Cubs take on Oxford next Friday (August 30, 8.15pm approx) under their Scunthorpe guise at the Eddie Wright Raceway.
SHEFFIELD 44: Nathan Ablitt 13, Luke Harrison 10+2, Ace Pijper 8, Mickie Simpson 6+1, Kean Dicken 4+1, Stene Pijper 3+1, Jamie Etherington 0. LEICESTER 46: Max James 14+1, Joe Thompson 14, Arran Butcher 10+1, Tom Spencer 5+2, Luke Crang 3+3, Sonny Springer 0, Vinnie Foord R/R. Leicester win the aggregate point 109-71.
