SHEFFIELD will need to overturn a ten point deficit later this month if they are to reach a third successive cup final.
The Tru7 Group Tigers were beaten 50-40 at King’s Lynn on Thursday in the first leg of their Knockout Cup Semi-Final.
It ended their 17 match unbeaten streak in top-flight competition against the Stars with the Sheffield riders chasing set-ups to help get them out of the starts for the majority of the contest.
Unusually, the reigning league champions only managed to win four races - but were, thankfully, able to stay within ten by sharing the last five races.
King’s Lynn found advantages in three of the opening four races to open up an eight point lead - but that was halved in Heat Five when Jack Holder and Kyle Howarth gated their way to a 5-1.
Chris Holder and Josh Pickering then landed a 4-2 in Heat Seven to bring the gap back down to two, but consecutive maximums for the hosts in Heats Nine and Ten saw them establish that ten point lead.
Whilst Jack Holder was the only Sheffield race winner in the final five heats, the Tigers’ combinations were able to take the minor placings in the others to leave the second leg nicely poised which takes place at Owlerton on Thursday, June 27 (7.30pm).
The Tigers return to league action this coming Monday (June 10, 7.30pm) when they make the trip to Ipswich.
PREMIERSHIP KO CUP S/F, 1st leg KING’S LYNN 50: Nicolai Klindt 13, Patryk Wojdylo 11, Benjamin Basso 8+1, Niels-Kristian Iversen 7, Richard Lawson 6+4, Simon Lambert 3, Anders Rowe 2. SHEFFIELD 40: Jack Holder 10+1, Chris Holder 9+1, Tai Woffinden 6, Kyle Howarth 5+2, Josh Pickering 5, Jason Edwards 3+1, Dan Gilkes 2+2.
