SHEFFIELD survived yet another last heat decider to preserve their winning streak at Owlerton.

Reliable heat-leader Adam Ellis and club captain Kyle Howarth produced the required 5-1 as the Tru Plant Tigers snatched a 46-44 win over bottom side King’s Lynn.

With the Norfolk outfit struggling desperately, many fancied the Steel City side to achieve their biggest home win of the season so far.

But instead league points went right down to the wire on another night of high tension and drama.

The visitors sent out an early warning as they opened up a 12-6 lead - and they looked set to move in front by ten.

But former Sheffield racer Ricky Wells suffered mechanical gremlins whilst on a paid win on the run to the line in a pivotal four point swing.

Eight of the final 12 races were split 3-3, with 5-1 maximums in the rest proving decisive.

Two came courtesy of Ellis and home debutant Josh Pickering, the second of which saw them both pass Richard Lawson superbly to help the Tigers hit the front for the first time after Heat Nine.

But Lawson led the next maximum for the hosts in Heat 13 with teammate Thomas Jorgensen following in behind, despite the best efforts of guest Danny King whilst No.1 Troy Batchelor was way out at the back on another tough night for the Australian.

That moved King’s Lynn back in front by two and in the opening bends of the penultimate race, they were on course to pull off the unthinkable.

But a gutsy, breathtaking blast around the boards from Pickering saw him pass both his rivals, claim his first race win in Sheffield colours and set up another nervy finish.

Ellis bolted out of the gate to ease to a fourth straight win, whilst Howarth gave it his all to charge underneath Stars guest Chris Harris as the home faithful erupted with a mixture of joy and relief.

Said Howarth: “King’s Lynn kept chipping away at us and they just wouldn’t let us go.

“Rob Lyon guested for them as a manager and he played his part.

“We don’t like these last heat deciders but to grab a 5-1 and get the three points, that’s what we needed.

“We managed to come out on top in the end and get the job done.”

Sheffield will be targeting a fifth straight home win next Thursday (July 22, 7.30) when high flying Peterborough visit Owlerton.

SHEFFIELD 46: Adam Ellis 12, Kyle Howarth 10+1, Josh Pickering 8+2, Danny King 8, James Wright 3+1, Troy Batchelor 3, Dan Thompson 2+2.

KING’S LYNN 44: Chris Harris 10+1, Richard Lawson 9, Ricky Wells 8+2, Lewis Kerr 7+2, Thomas Jorgensen 6+2, Connor Mountain 4+1, Cameron Heeps R/R.
Premiership Points: Sheffield 3 King’s Lynn 1.