A BRIGHT performance from the Sheffield Window Centre Tigers was overshadowed by an injury to the in-form Richard Hall at Berwick on Saturday night.
The Tigers were five points down going in to heat 14 when Hall collided with the fallen Damien Koppe, who was leading the race at the time.
Koppe came out unscathed but Hall suffered an upper arm injury and had to be transferred to a county ambulance, and more will be given on his condition as it comes through.
That heat resulted in a Berwick 5-1 and although Simon Stead won heat 15 to complete a fine maximum, the Bandits pairing passed Ricky Wells to secure the 3-3 they needed to grab all three league points.
It was another spirited display from Sheffield who were well placed to gain a league point before Hall’s injury, and now they will have to wait to see how long the Yorkshireman will be out for.
Simon Stead only made the decision to ride on Saturday morning but he was at his magnificent best, notching his first maximum of the season with five wins from five and justifying his decision to return from his dislocated shoulder.
Ricky Wells solid early-season form continued as he scored a season-best paid 14, including a six-point tactical ride, while Joe Haines impressed with paid-eight.
Hall was improving as the night went on before his injury and finished on three, and Facundo Albin worked extremely hard for his two points.
It was another tough night for the Tigers’ reserves as Jake Knight and Damien Koppe managed just two between them.
Hoggart was downbeat after Hall’s unfortunate crash; “It’s either a broken arm or a broken shoulder, we won’t know for sure until he’s had an x-ray. He was in a lot of pain and it’s just a savage blow for him because he’s in the form of his career.
“We’ll obviously get more information over the next 24 hours but it doesn’t look great at the moment, we just all hope Richard can make as quick a recovery as possible."
