TIGERS edged a narrow victory from their season-ending Challenge match at Scunthorpe after a night of thrills, spills and splendid racing.

And if, as expected, the Scorpions enter the Premier League next season the derby clashes between the two sides should be must-see events if the standard of this meeting is anything to go by.

Tigers were forced into a late change with Ricky Ashworth pulling out due to illness, and with the home side bringing in Premier League riders Carl Wilkinson and Adam Roynon, the lead swung to and fro all evening.

Rising star Tai Woffinden showed his class with an early win over Sheffield skipper Andre Compton in Heat 3, but Tigers' first heat win of the night from Joel Parsons in Heat 4 was a terrific one as he sliced between Wilkinson and Byron Bekker.

The Scorpions then suffered a major blow with Woffinden crashing out of the meeting in Heat 6, hitting the fence hard on the second bend which caused him some concussion.

And Tigers looked set to take control with a 4-2 in the re-run and a 5-1 from Compton and Paul Cooper in the next to go four points up - but Scunthorpe were not about to give up easily.

Even when Wilkinson fell in Heat 9 - and attempted to extract retribution on Parsons - former Sheffield man Benji Compton kept his side in it by overhauling Parsons on the last lap of the re-run, and Roynon then conjured an impressive pass on Andre Compton on the last bend of Heat 10.

Compton was sent back 15 metres in Heat 11 for failing to beat the two-minute time allowance, and he was then handed a most harsh exclusion for apparently causing Scott Richardson to fall as he attempted to come through the field.

Scunthorpe took a 5-1 in the re-run to go back ahead, and held that advantage through the next two races before Tigers levelled in Heat 14 thanks to a win for Cooper and a splendid ride from Luke Priest to pass Richardson on the last lap.

Heat 15 provided a dramatic conclusion with Compton and Cooper gating for the Tigers only for Roynon to almost pass both on turn two before he spun and fell.

Wilkinson split the Sheffield pairing but Roynon retired - which proved crucial as on the third lap Cooper's attempts to pass Wilkinson saw him crash spectacularly though the fence on turn three, and it was remarkable that he was able to walk away immediately.

With the fence damaged and the remaining riders just starting the last lap, the referee awarded the race as a 3-2 in the Tigers favour to give them the narrowest of wins at the end of a meeting which was a great advert for the sport.

SCUNTHORPE 44: Adam Roynon 11, Carl Wilkinson 11, Benji Compton 7, Byron Bekker 6+2, Tai Woffinden 6, Scott Richardson 3+1, Josh Auty r/r.

SHEFFIELD 45: Andre Compton 13, Joel Parsons 10+2, Paul Cooper 9+3, Simon Lambert 8+1, Luke Priest 3, Ricky Scarboro 2+1, Ricky Ashworth r/r.