SHEFFIELD team manager Marc Bates admitted they were left wondering what could have been after a 45-45 draw at Redcar.
The Window Centre Tigers travelled to Teesside without all-action duo Josh Bates and Jason Garrity due to injury.
They put in a battling performance, falling agonisingly short of a last-gasp victory before being forced to settle for two Premier League points.
Simon Stead, Kyle Howarth and Dimitri Berge all put in strong showings in the top five, whilst Aussie ace Arthur Sissis bagged a tremendous 9+2 at reserve.
With lower order partner Nathan Greaves and guest Matej Kus also making creditable contributions, it was a solid all-around team performance from the depleted Tigers.
The result moves the Owlerton outfit to the top of the table for the first time this season – and Bates was delighted to extend their unbeaten run to four meetings.
However, he is confident they would have emerged victorious had they been at full strength.
“It’s a good result, and we’re happy to get another two points to keep us moving up the table,” said Bates.
“The track was very slick so it was hard to pass, but the lads rode hard and there were plenty of positives to take from it.
“Arthur (Sissis) looked really good and Kyle (Howarth) pulled off a great ride to win heat 13. We rode as a team, and we are happy to get two points.
“Having said that, if we’d had Josh and Jason in the team we’d have easily won the meeting, there’s no two ways about it, so it’s a bit frustrating in a way.
“Matej Kus did a solid job for us, but you’d expect Jason to score more than five points and we only got two points from Josh’s rides, so if we’d been at full strength I’m sure we could have come away with a couple more points.”
The Tigers will now prepare to host National League side Cradley in a challenge fixture at Owlerton next Thursday (7.30) before taking on fellow high-flyers Glasgow in a blockbuster clash at Ashfield on Sunday, July 3.
REDCAR 45: David Bellego 12+1, Lasse Bjerre 10, Hugh Skidmore 9, Tobias Busch 5+1, Carl Wilkinson 5, Simon Lambert 2+1, Lee Payne 2. SHEFFIELD 45: Simon Stead 10, Arthur Sissis 9+2, Kyle Howarth 9+1, Dimitri Berge 8, Matej Kus 5+1, Nathan Greaves 4, Jason Garrity r/r.
