SHEFFIELD’S Premier League play-off hopes all but ended with a 59-37 defeat at Redcar on Monday evening.

The Tigers lost on home shale last week against the Bears, but there was to be no revenge in the return fixture and they are now dependant on other team’s results if they are to be involved in the promotion race-off.

Redcar were sharper from the start on the South Tees Motorsport track all evening and quickly opened up a 17-7 lead after four races.

Ricky Ashworth donned the black and white helmet for a double-point win in heat 5 ahead of the Bears duo of Carl Stonehewer and Robbie Kessler, but the home side quickly responded to further increase their advantage to 41-22 following the completion of heat 10.

Ashworth provided Sheffield’s second heat winner of the night when taking the chequered flag ahead of Ben Wilson and Arlo Bugeja in heat 11, but even aided by another double-point win for Richard Hall in heat 14, the Bears finished strongly and ran out comfortable victors.

REDCAR 59: Carl Stonehewer 16+1, Ty Proctor 15+1, Ben Wilson 13+1, Robbie Kessler 7+3, Arlo Bugeja 5+2, Stuart Swales 3+1, Gary Havelock (Rider-Replacement)

SHEFFIELD 37: Ricky Ashworth 11, Richard Hall 10, Josh Auty 7, Chris Mills 6, Hugh Skidmore 2, Joel Parsons 1, Scott Smith 0