THE SHEFFIELD WINDOW CENTRE TIGERS suffered another horrible injury blow at Ipswich on Thursday with the news that Simon Lambert suffered a suspected broken ankle.
The likeable Brit has only recently re-joined the Tigers but he crashed in heat seven and was taken to a local hospital with the suspicion of a second broken ankle for him this season.
Speaking after the 60-32 defeat, team boss David Hoggart expressed his disappointment for Lambert; “It’s gutting really, Simon had a nasty crash and the consensus of the medics at the track was that it was probably another broken ankle.
“He’s at the local hospital now and in good hands, but it’s devastating for Simon and we’re gutted for him.”
The Tigers battled valiantly at Foxhall but they were always up against it when Oliver Allen, guesting at number one, withdrew after suffering a bang on the head in the opening race.
They kept the scores tight for the first half of the meeting though, but when Lambert withdrew after heat seven it left Sheffield with just four riders for the rest of the contest.
Danny Maassen blew an engine in his first ride and had to race on borrowed equipment - which didn't work due to the difference in set-ups - and that meant that the Tigers had five races with just one rider in.
The Witches ran away in the second half and build a huge lead, but the battling performances of Ricky Wells, Andre Compton and Facundo Albin ensured that Sheffield left with their pride firmly intact and drew praise from Ipswich riders and management.
Hoggart was proud of his side’s efforts; “The scoreline only went wonky when we lost Simon, up until that point we were right in it. It was such a tough night though, we were riding with three riders by the end and that’s an impossible situation.
“The three guys were heroes for us really, they gave it everything and Ipswich actually asked them to join the victory parade because they appreciated their efforts so much. It was another night where we kept our pride but was hugely overshadowed by injuries again.”
The Window Centre Tigers now have just one Premier League match left this season, when Somerset visit Owlerton next Thursday (12th September).
