SHEFFIELD boss Simon Stead admits he’d have liked a bigger lead to take to Ipswich on Thursday (September 14, 7.30) - but feels his side are still more than capable of winning the Premiership Knockout Cup.

The Tru Plant Tigers fought their way to a 48-42 victory in their home leg on Monday, with a mid-meeting run of five consecutive heat advantages proving pivotal.

“I would’ve liked more, but we haven’t got more,” Stead said.

“We got caught a little bit early on but we did respond to that - it would’ve just been nice to have finished a little bit stronger.”

It was a frustrating night for guest No.1 Max Fricke, who scored just 2+1, but Stead is expecting much more from the Leicester captain in Thursday’s decider at Foxhall.

“Max is disappointed with his night,” Stead said.

“But he gets his chance to turn it around and put some points on the board for us.

“So if he can turn it around and the rest of the boys can keep doing what they’ve been doing then we’re going to be a handful.”

PREMIERSHIP KO CUP FINAL, 1st leg
SHEFFIELD 48: Josh Pickering 11+1, Kyle Howarth 10, Tobiasz Musielak 9, Chris Holder 9, Kyle Newman 4, Jason Edwards 3+2, Max Fricke 2+1.
IPSWICH 42: Danny King 10, Emil Sayfutdinov 9, Jason Doyle 8+2, Erik Riss 7, Keynan Rew 6, Danyon Hume 2, Joe Thompson 0.