UNLUCKY Tigers fell to another Premier League defeat – after a controversial end to last night’s clash on Tyneside.

The Owlerton side led twice during the meeting and with a 38-34 scoreline in their favour after 12 heats it looked a good bet that the points would be heading back to South Yorkshire.

But Tigers’ hopes of a second away win – with every point away from home now vital in the race for play-off places – were sent crashing in the last three races.

Firstly the Diamonds notched their second 5-1 of the night in heat 13 to level the scores and then the visitors were hit by a double whammy when, firstly, Joel Parsons fell with Sheffield looking set for a vital – and potentially match-winning - 4-2 with Paul Cooper in third.

Parsons was excluded from the re-run, while the lively Cooper was then sent crashing while trying to overtake Newcastle’s Richard Juul and was also excluded, despite strong protests from the Tigers’ camp.

That meant Newcastle were able to coast round for a 5-0 to put the match beyond Sheffield’s reach.

A 4-2 to the hosts in the finale gave them a flattering victory.

The unfortunate Cooper, who also fell while challenging for second in an earlier race, top scored with 12 while Ricky Ashworth and Andre Compton both scored 9 but heat-leader Ben Wilson had another disappointing night.

NEWCASTLE 48: Jason King 14, Sean Stoddart 12+1, George Stancl 9+2, Richard Juul 7+2, Josef Franc 6+1, Jonathan Bethell 0, Christian Henry r/r.
SHEFFIELD 41: Paul Cooper 12, Ricky Ashworth 9, Andre Compton 9, Joel Parsons 7+1, Ben Wilson 3+1, Kyle Hughes 1, Lee Smethills r/r.