SHEFFIELD took a giant step towards Premiership play-off qualification with a 51-39 home win over Wolverhampton.

It means the Tru Plant Tigers now need just two points from their final five regular fixtures to cement their place in the top four.

The Owlerton outfit maintained their unbeaten home league record in some style against a Wolves side who are just one point off a play-off place themselves.

It was visitors who claimed the opening two race wins before the hosts began to show their dominance.

Sheffield won the next nine heats in succession and seven 4-2s in that spell saw them stamp their authority on the fixture and open up a 14-point lead with just four races remaining.

And despite Wolves ending with four race wins on the spin, Tigers were never troubled and got a busy September up and running with a comfortable victory.

Co-promoter Damien Bates said: “That was a really good win against a strong Wolverhampton team.

“Yes, Wolves have got a few riders who aren’t 100 per cent at the minute but the way we rode I think we’d have beaten them anyway.

“This is a really big month for us now and to start it off with a performance and a win like that is just what we needed.”

Jack Holder was denied a five ride maximum when he was beaten by Wolves skipper Sam Masters in Heat 13 while Tobiasz Musielak won a hat-trick of races on his first night in the No.1 racejacket.

Lewis Kerr enjoyed a solid home debut with back-to-back successes in Heats Eight and Nine while Rising Star Connor Mountain scored in all five of his outings.

Kyle Howarth’s score was hampered by an exclusion for jumping the start twice while Justin Sedgmen’s points from reserve were the difference in sending Wolverhampton back to the West Midlands empty handed.

The Tru Plant Tigers now prepare for two meetings on the road. They head to Belle Vue on Monday (September 5, 7.30) before travelling to King’s Lynn next Thursday (September 8, 7.30).

SHEFFIELD 51: Jack Holder 14, Tobiasz Musielak 13+2, Lewis Kerr 9, Connor Mountain 6+1, Kyle Howarth 6, Justin Sedgmen 3+2, Adam Ellis R/R.

WOLVERHAMPTON 39: Sam Masters 12, Luke Becker 10, Ryan Douglas 8+2, Leon Flint 5, Nick Morris 4, Drew Kemp 0, Steve Worrall R/R.