SHEFFIELD Tigers got their Premier League campaign back on the right track with a 61-32 demolition of rivals Scunthorpe on Thursday.

But the meeting was tinged with sadness following the shock pre-meeting announcement about the sudden passing of hugely popular Owlerton Stadium manager Ken Spooner earlier in the day. ‘The Spoon’ was afforded respect before the meeting with a perfectly observed silence.

And when the action started Sheffield were at their brilliant best to bounce back after last Thursday’s home defeat by Newcastle.

Scunthorpe made a good start with a 4-2 in the opening race but from the moment Eric Boocock’s boys went ahead with a maximum 5-1 in the third there was no looking back.

Former Great Britain Under-21 champion David Howe was nominated for double points in Heat 7 but failed to make an impact.

Tero Aarnio managed some damage limitation as a tactical ride in the next and he had to work overtime to get the better of keen Tigers youngster Hugh Skidmore for a Scunny 6-3.

Rain was falling at regular intervals which made entertaining racing difficult at times, but Sheffield didn’t let it deter them with a string of fine races.

There was a superb Heat 13 and Howe was all over Sheffield’s Richard Hall in the penultimate race but the home hero held out under pressure.

Ricky Ashworth partnered Hall for a last race maximum to give the scoreline a more emphatic appearance – but Tigers deserved all the points with maximums from Hall and Auty.

SHEFFIELD: Ricky Ashworth 13+1, Richard Hall 12+3, Josh Auty 11+1, Josef Franc 8, Hugh Skidmore 6, Simon Lambert 6+2, Paul Cooper 5+2.

SCUNTHORPE: Magnus Karlsson 7, Tero Aarnio 7, David Howe 6, Carl Wilkinson 5, Victor Bergstrom 3, Jerran Hart 2+2, Steve Worrall 2.