SHEFFIELD scraped through to the Premiership League Cup Final - despite suffering their first defeat of the season.

The Tru Plant Tigers were beaten 46-44 at home by Wolverhampton, leaving the two sides level on nine points at the top of the Northern Group.

But with race points difference then taken into account, the result meant the Tigers were left on +18 with Wolves on +16, as the South Yorkshire side went through by the narrowest of margins.

The Tigers looked in control with ten races gone as they held a 34-26 lead.

But the visitors took the chequered flag in the final five races in a real tense finish in the Steel City.

When the Tigers tucked into second and third in Heat 14, it meant the visitors needed an unlikely 5-0 to progress.

And with the hosts crossing the line it saw them edge through to the Final, while a Wolves 5-1 inflicted a first defeat in 2022.

Tru Plant Tigers skipper Kyle Howarth said: “They came here and put a shift in all night and fair play to them they got it in the end.

“Some of our lads just weren’t quite there tonight but that’s just how it goes sometimes.

“It’s a disappointing night for us but we are through to the Final and we’ll come back fighting.

“We’ll bounce back and we’ll look forward to our next home meeting.”

The Tru Plant Tigers are back at Owlerton next Thursday (May 26, 7.30) with Belle Vue the visitors in a mouthwatering Premiership clash.

Before that though, Jack Holder and Adam Ellis, plus Rising Star Connor Mountain, head to Peterborough on Monday (May 23) for the opening round of the 2022 Premiership Pairs.

SHEFFIELD 44: Jack Holder 11, Kyle Howarth 9+1, Connor Mountain 6+2, Craig Cook 5, Tobiasz Musielak 5, Adam Ellis 5, Stefan Nielsen 3+2.

WOLVERHAMPTON 46: Nick Morris 12, Sam Masters 11+3, Steve Worrall 8, Luke Becker 8, Ryan Douglas 6, Joe Thompson 1, Drew Kemp 0.