SHEFFIELD dug deep to keep their play-off chances alive with a 54-35 win over Scunthorpe at Owlerton.


The Window Centre Tigers put in a battling display to end their regular season campaign with a win and move back up to fifth in the Premier League table.

It was an impressive showing from the depleted Tigers, leaving Peterborough needing to win at Edinburgh and Ipswich requiring three points from their final two fixtures to knock them out of the top six.

Regardless of results elsewhere, it was a determined local derby performance from Sheffield under intense pressure – and team boss Eric Boocock was proud of the character shown by his side.

“It was a welcome win with a decent score,” said Boocock. “We came up against a depleted Scunthorpe side but we had riders missing ourselves and we had to work hard to get the job done.

“We still don’t know if it will be enough to make the play-offs, but it puts us in a strong position and we’ve done all that we can now.

“Richard Lawson did a great job for us as a guest and Kyle Howarth was superb after a nasty crash. All the riders gave it their all and played their part, so it was a good performance and we just have to wait and see what happens.”

In-form middle order man Kyle Howarth led by example with a match-winning 13+1.point haul to help cover the absences of star top two Simon Stead and Jason Garrity through injury.

Richard Lawson also suffered just one defeat as he guested for Stead in the No.1 spot, whilst Josh Bates ended his night with two impressive wins to see them over the line.

Dimitri Berge was in the thick of the action throughout, pulling off a daring final bend to snatch victory in heat four.

He was involved in an unsavoury scuffle with James Sarjeant, who was working in the pits with Hugh Skidmore, after heat 11 but nonetheless scored a crucial 8+1 points.

Arthur Sissis put in a solid showing at reserve, ending with a paid win behind Bates in the penultimate race, whilst Nathan Stoneman defeated his opposite number on all three occasions as he guested at No.7.

It was a case of job well done for the play-off chasing Tigers, who will now face an anxious wait to discover their play-off fate.

They will nonetheless be back in action as they host the second leg of their League Cup semi-final tie with Somerset at Owlerton next Thursday (7.30).

SHEFFIELD 54: Richard Lawson 15+1, Kyle Howarth 13+1, Josh Bates 9, Dimitri Berge 8+1, Arthur Sissis 6+1, Nathan Stoneman 3+1, Jason Garrity R/R.
SCUNTHORPE 35: Ryan Douglas 11, Carl Wilkinson 10+1, Lewis Kerr 8, Hugh Skidmore 5+2, Fritz Wallner 1, Chris Widman 0, Michael Palm Toft R/R.