SHEFFIELD finally got the better of Birmingham in the most dramatic of finishes to a thriller at Owlerton on Thursday.

Tigers snatched a 4-2 in the last race having seemed set for defeat when the Brummies hit the front - only for Ricky Ashworth and Josh Auty to go past Steve Johnston, and then race leader Jason Lyons ground to a halt on the last lap, rendering Johnston's late re-pass of Auty immaterial.

The Heat 15 drama brought the house down but there had been plenty of thrilling action beforehand with Auty the focal point as he twice conjured remarkable double-overtakes of Birmingham riders to prevent 5-1s

Ashworth's performance was also worthy of the highest praise given his recent injury problems, and Richard Hall recovered from a slow start to produce two blistering winning rides in the second half of a classic meeting.

SHEFFIELD: Josh Auty 13, Ricky Ashworth 13, Richard Hall 7, Peter Kildemand 5, Arlo Bugeja 3+2, Paul Cooper 3, Hugh Skidmore 2.

BIRMINGHAM: Steve Johnston 11, Richard Sweetman 8+1, Justin Sedgmen 7+2, Aaron Summers 7, Jason Lyons 5+3, Rusty Harrison 5+1, Kyle Newman 1+1.