SHEFFIELD took a big step towards play-off qualification with a significant 48-42 home win over King’s Lynn.

It was a result which moved the Tru Plant Tigers 13 points ahead of the Norfolk side who are their closest challengers outside the top four.

Missing 2017 British Champion Craig Cook through injury, it was a hard fought victory from the remaining six Tigers who battled away to maintain their 100 per cent home league record.

It was King’s Lynn who dominated the starts in the early exchanges, opening up a six point lead with two 5-1s in the first three races.

But Connor Mountain and Tobiasz Musielak replied in Heat Four to move back within two.

Adam Ellis recovered from a disappointing opening ride to take the fifth before a 4-2 from Jack Holder and Justin Sedgmen levelled the scores at 18-18.

The visitors nipped back in front before captain Kyle Howarth led successive 5-1s in Heats Eight and Nine with Mountain and Ellis to move the Tigers ahead by six.

King’s Lynn were back level by Heat 11 before Sheffield capitalised on two exclusions for the visitors to move 42-36 in front by Heat 13.

The Stars sat on a 5-1 in the penultimate race until skipper Howarth produced an unbelievable match winning display, to charge around both visiting riders on bends three and four to bring the house down at Owlerton.

And while a shared race in Heat 15 was enough to see King’s Lynn head home with a consolation league point, boss Simon Stead was thrilled with his side’s battling qualities.

“It was a very, very difficult meeting,” Stead admitted.

“They came and gave us a real tough match so fair play to them for that.

“I was always reasonably confident that when the gate change swing came that we could get some points on the board and turn things round which we did, but it was tough.

“We had a couple of issues early on but they all did their bit and ultimately we got the job done.

“We would’ve liked to have sent them home with nothing but looking at the scorecard throughout the meeting, them going home with one point is probably fair - but tonight was all about us getting three points which we managed.”

Jack Holder warmed up for the FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain this weekend by top scoring for the Tigers, winning three of his five rides.

Kyle Howarth recovered from a slow start to record three superb straight victories while Adam Ellis went unbeaten by an opponent in his three middle outings.

Tobiasz Musielak was solid with 7+2 while the reserves arguably provided the critical contributions outscoring their King’s Lynn counterparts 11-3 with Rising Star Connor Mountain bagging his highest score of the season.

Sheffield head to basement side Peterborough next Monday (August 15, 7.30) for their latest Premiership outing.

SHEFFIELD 48: Jack Holder 12, Kyle Howarth 10, Adam Ellis 8+1, Tobiasz Musielak 7+2, Connor Mountain 7+1, Ryan Sedgmen 4, Craig Cook r/r.
KING’S LYNN 42: Nicolai Klindt 13, Thomas Jorgensen 10+3, Josh Pickering 7+2, Richie Worrall 6+1, Richard Lawson 3, Frederik Jakobsen 3, Jason Edwards 0.