SHEFFIELD opened up their League Cup campaign with a thrilling last gasp win at Belle Vue.
Going into the final heat Simon Stead’s men were two-points down and staring defeat in the face.
But brilliant Tru Plant Tigers duo Adam Ellis and Jack Holder, who will be strongly fancied for the Premiership Pairs this season, rallied with a stunning 5-1 in the final heat to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in a Manchester thriller.
Sheffield went into the meeting without their two high profile winter signings, Tobiasz Musielak and Craig Cook. Musielak has stayed in Poland for treatment on a knock he took at the weekend and is expected back soon and Cook has tested positive for Covid.
Richie Worrall, a former Belle Vue man, was snapped up as a guest replacement and did a fine job with a 9+2 haul including two precious race wins.
But it was the big scoring duo of Holder and Ellis who carried the team over the line with six race wins and 26-points between them.
Worrall teamed up with Stefan Nielsen – back after horrific injuries – for a key 5-1 in Heat 12 but when Charles Wright and debutant Norick Blodorn edged out Tigers skipper Kyle Howarth in the penultimate race it gave the advantage back to the home side.
Holder and Ellis duly kept their cool in a re-run to shut out Brady Kurtz and Charles Wright to secure three group points.
Tru Plant Tigers co-promoter Damien Bates said: “The day didn’t get off to the best of starts with the news about Craig and Toby missing out, but they boys have shown fantastic character.
“Thankfully it doesn’t look too bad for both boys and they’ll be back soon, but in the meantime credit to the lads who did the business at Belle Vue.
“It’s a great result to start the season and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Owlerton for the Steel City Championship on Thursday when I’m sure Holder and Ellis will take some stopping.”
BELLE VUE 44: Max Fricke 10+1, Charles Wright 10, Brady Kurtz 9+1, Tom Brennan 6, Jye Etheridge 4+1, Norick Blodorn 3+1, Jake Allen 2+1. SHEFFIELD 46: Jack Holder 13+1, Adam Ellis 13, Richie Worrall 9+2, Kyle Howarth 5, Stefan Nielsen 4+1, Connor Mountain 2+1, Craig Cook r/r.
