SHEFFIELD Tigers suffered a setback in their bid for a top four finish with a 49-41 defeat by title favourites Edinburgh on Thursday.

They were made to pay for a nightmare start which saw them 10-2 down after two races against a powerhouse Scottish side.

Ricky Ashworth was top scorer with 12+1 for the Sheffield Window Centre-backed side but the Monarchs had more strength in-depth.

Sheffield owner Neil Machin said: "This is a disappointing outcome for the boys after our defeat at Birmingham, but we have to move on and make the most of the meetings we have remaining.

"The top four remains a priority for the team but if we are left with the Young Shield then we will go and try and win that. I must also pay tribute to Edinburgh, they are a magnificent side and there is no answer to them sometimes, as we discovered on this occasion."

SHEFFIELD: Ricky Ashworth 12+1, Josef Franc 10, Josh Auty 9, Richard Hall 6+2, Simon Lambert 3, Dakota North 1, Hugh Skidmore 0.

EDINBURGH: Ryan Fisher 12+2, Matthew Wethers 9, Kevin Wolbert 8, William Lawson 7+1, Andrew Tully 6, Kalle Katajisto 4+1, Arlo Bugeja 3+2.