SHEFFIELD registered another statement victory with a 57-33 home win over Premiership Knockout Cup winners Leicester on Thursday.
Seven nights on from racing to their biggest win of the season (58-32) against Northampton, the Tigers were completely dominant once again as they moved to within one point of their opponents inside the play-off places.
It was another blistering start for the Steel City side who opened with seven straight heat advantages, including four 5-1s in the first five races.
The scoreline sat at 32-10 before the visitors managed their first race winner and advantage of the night as they found a 5-1 in Heat Eight - but the Tigers responded immediately with a maximum of their own and two further 4-2s to mathematically seal the deal with four races to spare.
Leicester team boss Stewart Dickson used No.1 Ryan Douglas as a clever tactical substitute in Heat 12, with an eye on next week’s aggregate point when the side’s meet again in the East Midlands, and the Lions claimed their second 5-1 of the night.
Sheffield had a 4-2 in Heat 13 before Leon Flint secured a four ride maximum leading a 5-1 in Heat 14.
But the visitors rounded off with a third maximum in the re-run of Heat 15 after Tigers skipper Josh Pickering crashed heavily as he found himself sandwiched between the two Leicester riders on the exit of bend four.
Tigers team boss Simon Stead said: “It’s another really solid win for us - but we know this will fire Leicester up even more for when we go to their place next week!
“Again it was nice to see plenty of really strong individual performances - and it was nice to see the contribution from our reserves after their disappointment at King’s Lynn on Monday, I was really pleased with that.
“I can’t really have any complaints and we thank Doyley (Jason Doyle) for coming in, really gelling in with the team and doing such a fantastic job out on track.
“Picko will need to sleep on it and see how he feels tomorrow; he’s took a hefty knock to his backside so he’s going to need to get that assessed properly!”
Leon Flint hit double figures around Owlerton for a third meeting in succession as he stormed his way to a full four ride max before opting to sit out of Heat 15, more than satisfied with another impressive night’s work.
Despite his alarming Heat 15 crash, captain Josh Pickering also extended his double figure score run to seven home meetings in a row after opening with three straight successes.
Guest No.1 Jason Doyle won two of his four rides on his way to paid double figures and also set the tone as he produced a strong move on the opening lap of his first outing to earn a paid win behind Anders Rowe who also won two of his programmed rides.
Chris Holder enjoyed two paid wins behind Flint on his way to paid nine whilst reserve Jye Etheridge bounced back brilliantly from a blank at King’s Lynn on Monday to be involved in two 5-1s as he scored in each of his four outings.
Rising Star Luke Killeen was also involved in two maximums, despite suffering a puncture on the final bend of Heat Four.
The Tigers travel to the Hydroscand Arena to face Leicester away next Thursday (August 13, 7.30pm) with the next action at Owlerton on Monday, August 17 (7.30pm) with King’s Lynn the visitors.
SHEFFIELD 57: Leon Flint 12, Josh Pickering 10, Jason Doyle 9+1, Chris Holder 7+2, Jye Etheridge 7+1, Anders Rowe 7, Luke Killeen 5+2. LEICESTER 33: Ryan Douglas 11, Nick Morris 8+2, Drew Kemp 4, Joe Thompson 3+1, Dan Thompson 3. Sam Masters 3, Will Cairns 1.
