SHEFFIELD are through to the League Cup semi-finals after a 47-43 home victory over Ipswich.

The Window Centre Tigers put in a hard-fought, spirited display as they secured top spot in the Midland group.

The opening stages of the meeting were close to say the least as the visitors edged ahead in every other race only for the Tigers to respond with an exact scoreline in their favour in the following heats.

Tied at 21-21 with seven heats gone, the home side moved in front for the first time in heat eight courtesy of a 4-2 from Dimitri Berge and Nathan Greaves.

Berge would play a crucial role again in heat ten as he teamed up with Simon Stead for a defining 5-1 maximum.

A further 4-2 and three shared heats would be enough for the Tigers to secure the all important victory with one race remaining before the Witches snatched a last gasp consolation point from a thrilling encounter at Owlerton.

It was a solid team performance from the Tigers and 20-year-old Frenchman Dimitri Berge was delighted to top score for the home side.

"I'm really happy with my score tonight and I felt really good," he said.

"I was a bit slow in my first one and I missed the gate in heat 15, but I was really quick in between and to get three race wins was very good for me.

"A few of the team are disappointed with their scores but every rider scored some important points in the end.

"The most important thing for us is that we won and that means we're in the semi-finals of the competition."

Sheffield travel to Ipswich on Saturday for their final meeting of the League Cup group stages.

SHEFFIELD 47: Dimitri Berge 10, Kyle Howarth 9+1, Jason Garrity 7, Richard Hall 6+3, Simon Stead 6+1, Nathan Greaves 5+1, Josh Bates 4.

IPSWICH 43: Danny King 13+1, Nico Covatti 11+1, Lewis Kerr 7, James Sarjeant 5+1, Morten Risager 4, Darryl Ritchings 3, Paco Castagna 0.