SHEFFIELD Tigers face a tough task to stay in the Young Shield, following a 57-36 quarter-final, first leg defeat at Isle of Wight.

The Islanders made home advantage count with some solid scoring all down the order and the Yorkshiremen now have work to do in Thursday’s deciding second leg at Owlerton.

The men from across the Solent were in good form all night and quickly opened up a 25-11 lead after six races. Sheffield skipper Andre Compton had his customary tactical ride for double points in heat 7, and with assistance from team-mate Paul Cooper, they did momentarily reduce the arrears with an 8-1.

That, however, sparked a response from the Island side, as further heat advantages put them into a 38-25 lead after heat 10. A couple of shared races then followed, including another Compton win in heat 12.

Ben Wilson failed to score as a tactical-substitute ride off 15-metres in heat 14, helping the Islanders finish the meeting with a flourish and they will now take a 21-point lead to Owlerton in forty-eight hours time.

ISLE OF WIGHT: Jason Bunyan 13+2, Krzyzstof Stojananowski 10, Paul Fry 10, Richard Sweetman 9+1, Cory Gathercole 7, Glen Phillips 5+4, Andrew Bargh 3+1

SHEFFIELD: Andre Compton 14, Paul Cooper 8+1, Ben Wilson 8+1, Joel Parsons 4+1, Lee Smethills 2, Dave Speight 0, Ricky Ashworth R/R