AN emotional Josh Pickering spoke of his pride of his Sheffield team-mates following his first meeting as club captain in a teary post-match interview.
Despite being reduced to a six-man team before a wheel was turned, with triple World Champion Tai Woffinden remaining in hospital following a crash in Poland on Sunday, the Tru7 Group Tigers opened the 2025 campaign with a 61-29 home win over Birmingham - their joint highest victory ever in the Premiership.
Inspirational skipper Pickering and No.1 Jack Holder dropped just a single point apiece whilst Anders Rowe bagged a brilliant paid maximum on his Tigers’ debut.
Chris Holder’s only beaten outing came in his final ride of the evening after getting shut out on the opening bends of Heat 13 whilst Rising Star Leon Flint still achieved paid double figures despite bike issues in his first ride of the night.
It was a tougher fixture for reserve Danyon Hume who will be able to take plenty away from the first night of action into next Thursday’s (April 10, 7.30pm) second home clash with King’s Lynn.
But Pickering was full of praise for everyone involved after one of the most challenging weeks at the club in recent times.
“It was an awesome team performance,” Pickering said.
“Our backs were against the wall and it goes to show a great team can get going when the times are tough.
“I’m so proud of all of the boys here tonight - obviously we’ve got something sat at the back of our minds and we’re going to continue to have that for a number of weeks.
“I didn’t want to talk about it leading up to the meeting but things hit close to home when it’s one of your best mates.
“It’s a tough sport that we do man, there’s many highs and many lows.
“Tai has had every single high in the sport and now he’s experiencing a very tough low.
“I just can’t stop thinking about him and the kids and the family.”
SHEFFIELD 61: Josh Pickering 16+1, Jack Holder 14, Anders Rowe 11+4, Chris Holder 11+1, Leon Flint 7+4, Danyon Hume 2, Tai Woffinden R/R. BIRMINGHAM 29: Matej Zagar 7, Keynan Rew 5+1, Michael Jepsen Jensen 5, Jason Edwards 4+1, Jonas Jeppesen 4, Tobiasz Musielak 3+1, Antti Vuolas 1.
