TIGERS edged out a determined Redcar side 52-41 in one of the closer Owlerton meetings of the season.

The result leaves them needing a solid away display tonight in the return.

Sheffield were again their own worst enemies in an off-night from the tapes while they also threw points away by the barrow-load.

Ricky Ashworth blotted his copybook after carding two opening wins when he fell on the third turn in heat 10 while rashly trying to pass Bears' James Grieves and Robbie Kessler on the inside and he then ground to a halt on the first turn in his next race.

Tigers had other mishaps after a bright start when they opened up a 23-13 gap after six heats.

Redcar promptly slammed in an 8-1 tactical ride win in the seventh through surprise packet Grieves, who usually hates the South Yorkshire circuit, and ex-Tiger Kessler, while the same duo notched a 5-1 in the re-run of heat 10 after Ashworth's rush of blood and subsequent exclusion.

That left Tigers just five points up but they failed to find their usual power-packed finish with only one more 5-1.

TIGERS: A. Compton 13, P. Cooper 9+2, R. Ashworth 8+1, J. Parsons 7+1, B. Wilson 6, J. Birkinshaw 5+2, J. Cockle 4+1.
REDCAR: J. Grieves 13, R. Kessler 9+3, C. Kerr 9, M. Karlsson 7+1, M. Thompson 2+1, D. Giffard 1, R. Hodgson 0.

TONIGHT'S TEAMS (Redcar v Tigers, 7.30pm):
TIGERS: Ricky Ashworth, James Birkinshaw, Andre Compton, Ben Wilson, Joel Parsons, Paul Cooper, James Cockle.
REDCAR: Carl Stonehewer (pictured), Daniel Giffard, James Grieves, Robbie Kessler, Chris Kerr, Rusty Hodgson, Josh Auty.
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