SHEFFIELD skipper Andre Compton led by example to race to a 15-point maximum which helped steer his Tigers team to a 51-39 Premier League victory against Stoke on Thursday night at Owlerton.

The Tigers found themselves up against a determined Potters team on the night and, with the added handicap of losing Ricky Ashworth after his second ride due to a reoccurrence of his recent wrist injury, it made for a thrilling duel between the two sides.

Sheffield were dealt an early shock as Stoke opened up with a 5-1 in heat 1 and the Tigers didn’t draw level until James Cockle and Joel Parsons raced to a 4-2 in heat 4.

The scores remained tied, but Sheffield finally hit the front when Cockle and Ben Wilson raced to a 5-1 in heat 8 - that was quickly followed by Compton and James Birkinshaw scoring five more in heat 9.

The Tigers held their eight-point advantage until Paul Cooper suffered a heavy fall after clashing with Claus Vissing in heat 13. Cooper was up and okay, but was angry at his controversial exclusion from the re-run and made his feelings felt towards Vissing when the riders returned to the pits. Tempers were eventually calmed and Stoke raced to a 4-2 in the re-run.

With Sheffield’s lead now cut to just six points the Tigers needed a response – and they got it in heat 14. Complin was left at the start, but the home duo of Cooper and Birkinshaw took full-advantage and stormed to a 5-1 which wrapped up the match for the Yorkshiremen.

SHEFFIELD 51: Andre Compton 15, Ben Wilson 9+1, Joel Parsons 8, Paul Cooper 7+1, James Cockle 7, James Birkinshaw 4+2, Ricky Ashworth 1+1

STOKE 39: Rusty Harrison 11+2, Claus Vissing 7, Ben Barker 6, Lee Complin 6, Glenn Cunningham 5+2, Barrie Evans 4, Jamie Smith 0