SHEFFIELD'S injury crisis caught up with them in a 59-33 defeat at Berwick on Saturday.

Skipper Simon Stead was in stunning form but he suffered from a lack of support from his colleagues as he notched 18-points.

The Sheffield Window Centre side had only three of their first choice riders available and the injured Ty Proctor made the long trip to support his colleagues.

Berwick romped to four maximum 5-1 wins in the opening seven heats to take command at 31-13 which was far too much for Tigers to recover from.

Joe Screen's side managed to muster a heat advantage in heat eight when Simon Stead, taking his Rider Replacement ride, managed a 4-2 with Taylor Poole.

After this brief respite, the Bandits hit back with further advantages in heats 9 and 10 before Stead and guest Justin Sedgmen secured further 4-2s for the Tigers in heats 11 and 13.

With the scores at 56-30 going into the last heat, the aim had to be to prevent the Bandits reaching 60 points and when Stead and Sedgmen gated it looked like Tigers could snatch a maximum from heat 15.

But first Vissing, then Wethers, passed Sedgmen to leave the heat drawn.

Tigers co-boss Peter Mole said: "This is obviously disappointing but we are up against it right now with injuries. We look forward to welcoming Nico Covatti next week."

BERWICK 59: Claus Vissing 13, Matthew Wethers 11+3, Matej Kus 10+1, Steen Jensen 9+1, Alex Edberg 7+2, Kevin Doolan 7+1, David Bellego 2.

SHEFFIELD 33: Simon Stead 18, Taylor Poole 6, Justin Sedgmen 5+1, Ben Wilson 2, Mason Campton 2, Chris Widman 0, Leigh Lanham r/r.