SHEFFIELD picked up maximum Premier League points from a 57-36 win over Newcastle at Owlerton.
The Owlerton side had only managed to nose into a seven-point lead after 11 heats as they looked to overturn a five-point deficit for the aggregate bonus point.
The visitors, tracking Danish star-in-the-making Jonas Raun, managed a 7-2 tactical ride win from Josef Franc and Ross Brady in heat 7 and then notched a surprise 5-1 from in-form Christian Henry and teenager Raun to give themselves of a fighting chance of the bonus – or even a first-ever win in South Yorkshire.
But Sheffield clicked into gear in the final four races, including three maximum 5-1s to earn the points which keep them on track as title contenders in the early stages of the league campaign.
TIGERS: A. Compton 15, R. Ashworth 13+1, P. Cooper 10+3, B. Wilson 9, J. Parsons 8+1, J. Cockle 2+1. NEWCASTLE: J. Franc 11, J. Raun 6, C. Wilkinson 5+1, C. Henry 5, S. Stoddart 4, R. Brady 4, A. Johnson 1.
