SHEFFIELD secured their first silverware of the season with victory over Ipswich in the Premiership Knockout Cup Final.
The Tru7 Group Tigers beat last year’s winners 100-80 on aggregate and sealed the trophy by grabbing a 45-45 draw at Foxhall on Thursday.
The Steel City side headed to Suffolk with a 20 point lead after winning 14 of the 15 races at Owlerton on Monday.
And that big cushion helped keep the camp calm and collected as the Witches came out fighting on home shale.
The hosts opened with a 5-1 with Sheffield captain Kyle Howarth hampered by mechanical gremlins before more bike problems ahead of Heat Two, this time for Dan Gilkes. But the Tigers’ Rising Star raced his way into third place behind reserve partner Jason Edwards for a share of the spoils, despite starting from a 15-metre handicap.
Sheffield gated on a 5-1 in Heat Three and whilst Josh Pickering flew off out front to provide them with their first race winner, Chris Holder was passed by both switches representatives Keynan Rew and guest Tom Brennan.
Howarth and Gilkes then conceded a 5-1 in Heat Four before Howarth and Jack Holder took the minor placings in a shared Heat Five.
But Ipswich then reduced the overall deficit to ten points with a 4-2 in Heat Six.
Step forward Pickering and Chris Holder who have steadied the ship on numerous occasions throughout 2024. The Aussie duo worked smartly together on the opening lap to end Danny King’s unbeaten start and bang home an important maximum of their own.
The Tigers gated on another 5-1 in Heat Eight and whilst Howarth cleared off to pick up his first race win of the final, Gilkes was picked off by Dan Thompson and then Adam Ellis by the end of the first lap.
Ipswich restored their ten point lead on the night when Rew and Brennan struck a maximum over Jack Holder and Edwards But a quick rallying call from team manager Simon Stead in the pits got his riders going as two key races followed.
There was controversy in the initial staging of Heat Ten when the race was stopped, much to the dismay of Stead with his riders out-trapping their opponents. And after consulting video replays, SCB Referee Chris Gay clearly realised he had been a bit hasty on the button as he refused to issue any official warnings.
Thankfully, Pickering and Chris Holder once again flew out of the starts for their second 5-1 of the night together - and it was quickly followed by another for the Tigers.
Jack Holder was so far clear in Heat 11 he slowed off bend four to wheelie over the line to take his first win whilst Howarth rode a clever opening lap to bring the gap back down to two on the night.
Despite Ipswich getting a 4-2 in Heat 12, Chris Holder’s second place was enough mathematically to wrap up the cup - but the Tigers’ celebrations were muted until they couldn’t contain themselves any longer as the Holder brothers eased to a classy 5-1 in Heat 13 to draw back level.
Ipswich moved back ahead on the night, but Pickering’s outside pass on Dan Thompson meant there were only two points in it going into Heat 15.
And when Pickering zoomed off out front and Howarth held off Brennan for third, the Tigers grabbed a draw despite being ten down with six to go.
Sheffield now take a small break ahead of their ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Semi-Finals.
Their first leg against rivals Belle Vue in Manchester takes place on Monday, September 16 with the decider at Owlerton on Thursday, September 19.
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP FINAL, 2nd leg IPSWICH 45: Keynan Rew 14, Tom Brennan 9+2, Dan Thompson 9+1, Danny King 9, Adam Ellis 4+2, James Pearson 0, Jason Doyle R/R. SHEFFIELD 45: Josh Pickering 14+2, Chris Holder 11, Kyle Howarth 9+1, Jack Holder 8+2, Jason Edwards 2, Dan Gilkes 1+1, Tai Woffinden R/R. Sheffield win 100-80 on aggregate.
