SHEFFIELD were beaten 50-40 in the home leg of their Premiership Play-Off Semi-Final against rivals Belle Vue on Monday.

It means the Tru Plant Tigers have it all to do in Thursday’s decider at the National Speedway Stadium in Manchester.

Following last week’s postponement, doubts were again cast over the fixture when heavy rain hit the Steel City throughout the course of Monday daytime.

But Track Curator Graham Trollope and his team worked wonders to get the circuit in shape and get the meeting on.

A bumper crowd were treated to some close, competitive action throughout - but unfortunately for the hosts, they were on the wrong end of the scoreline.

They were able to record just six race winners and two heat advantages as they were beaten by the Aces at home for the first time this season.

Heat-leader Josh Pickering was one of three Tigers who did manage a race victory - and he is refusing to give up hope ahead of Thursday’s trip to Manchester.

“Belle Vue came here and had a good one tonight,” Pickering said.

“They were a bit sharper out of the starts than we were and of course we’re disappointed to lose at home.

“But there’s no reason why we can’t turn it around and do the same to them at Belle Vue.”

PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL, 1st leg
SHEFFIELD 40: Jack Holder 12, Josh Pickering 8+1, Adam Ellis 6, Connor Mountain 6, Kyle Howarth 4+3, Troy Batchelor 3, Danyon Hume 1.
BELLE VUE 50: Steve Worrall 12, Charles Wright 11+2, Richie Worrall 11+1, Dan Bewley 6+1, Tom Brennan 5+2, Jye Etheridge 5, Brady Kurtz r/r.