SHEFFIELD’S Play-off Final hopes are on a knife-edge following their thrilling 53-43 first leg victory at Owlerton.

The Tigers produced a solid team effort to beat a resilient Newcastle side and will now travel to Tyneside on Sunday for the decider with a trophy and the chance to face Ipswich in the promotion/ relegation race-off on the line.

Ricky Ashworth had one of his best nights of the season scoring 14-points and also breaking the Owlerton track record in the process. Richard Hall also chipped in with 11+1, but there were some vital contributions all down the order.

Sheffield got off to blistering start to lead 18-6 after four races, but a Kenni Larsen tactical ride in heat 5 got the Diamonds back into the tie when he linked up with Dakota North for an 8-1.

Back came the Tigers winning their points from behind and a series of 4-2s put them into a 40-29 lead following the completion of heat 11.

Hall and Simon Lambert then shot from the tapes for a 5-1 in heat 12 which put the Tigers 45-30 ahead, but Rene Bach’s pass of Hall in heat 14 for six-points and subsequent 7-2 with North, leaves the tie delicately poised going into the weekend.

SHEFFIELD 53: Ricky Ashworth 14, Richard Hall 11+1, Hugh Skidmore 8+2, Simon Lambert 8+2, Josh Auty 8+1, Adam Roynon 4+2, Josef Franc R/R

NEWCASTLE 43: Kenni Larsen 13, Rene Bach 12+1, Mark Lemon 10, Dakota North 6+2, Derek Sneddon 2, Adam McKinna 0, Jason King R/R