Sheffield skipper Josh Pickering was delighted to see his side get the better of “tough opposition” as Tigers defeated Rowe Motor Oil Premiership champions Ipswich 52-38 at Owlerton on Thursday.
The teams were deadlocked at 24-24 after each of the opening eight heats ended 3-3. But Sheffield twisted the throttle in the second half of the meeting, racing to four 5-1s and a 4-2 across the remaining seven heats.
Pickering topped the scoring on 12 paid 13, with 2012 world champion Chris Holder collecting 11 paid 12 and Speedway GP star Jack Holder adding 10 paid 13 as Tigers’ top-end power proved the difference.
Pickering said: “It was a tough night. They hit the ground running and definitely made it hard for us with all those shared heats.
“Ipswich is a strong side with the way they’re built, and we were up against tough opposition.
“But credit to the track staff; they had a little bit more dirt to play with and it probably suited me. Once we get a few home meetings on the bounce and get the starts exactly how we want them, and the track, I feel we can be a force to be reckoned with once again.”
Ipswich boss Paul Hurry was gutted to see his side fall short after keeping matters close in the early stages, on an entertaining night when skipper Danny King led the charge on 11 paid 13 points.
Hurry said: “It’s just disappointing when you hold them for that long and you lose by that many. It’s alright entertaining people, but when the result goes in our favour, it’s better.
“Towards the end there, we made the changes that we could. It didn’t quite pay off. When I looked at the races we had to go, I thought we had a fairly good chance of pulling it back when we were eight points down.
“All the boys dug deep. It’s not a favourite track for the majority of them. But they went there, got their heads down, got on with the job and did the best they could.
“We stuck in there for quite a while. It’s just that sometimes in those final heats on the bigger tracks, when the home boys get their setups dialled in and keep their wheels in line, we just miss out.”
Elsewhere, King’s Lynn completed their Premiership Knockout Cup campaign with a 47-41 victory away to league newcomers Northampton.
Speedway GP star Max Fricke led the scoring for the hosts on 13, while FIM Czech Speedway GP wild card Jan Kvech raced to 10 paid 14.
Stars’ 16-year-old sensation Cooper Rushen racked up 11 points, but he was involved in a frightening moment when Foxes rider Luke Harrison clipped his back wheel on the home straight and crashed along with King’s Lynn racer Jody Scott in heat two.
Aussie racer Kye Thomson scored an impressive 18 paid 19 points for the Foxes, with guest Zach Cook adding 11 paid 13.
Despite Ipswich already being through to the KO Cup Final against Leicester as Southern Section winners, King’s Lynn boss Rob Lyon said: “We wanted to put on a good show, and obviously it was a pay day for the boys so they wanted to do as well as they could. Hopefully we put on a decent show for the fans, and that’s what it’s all about.
“Jody is a little battered and bruised. He’s hurt his neck, but we’re not quite sure what that is. I think he’ll be a bit sore as you’d expect, but we’ll see how he goes over the weekend.”
Northampton team manager Chris Adams called on Foxes fans to stay behind their team as they seek their first win. He said: “You could tell early on that some riders were struggling, and it put us on the back foot a bit. We were 12 points down and came back for a last heat decider, but I’m a little disappointed at the result and I’m sure everyone else is.
“Anyone who saw that crash will know that Luke is very lucky to still be walking out of here, and the same with Jody as well. We wish them a speedy recovery, and hope they are back racing soon.
“We have to focus on the meetings ahead now, we can’t dwell on this performance. We’ll go to Sheffield with a fresh head and see what we can get from there.
“The support has been tremendous so far, and I know the results haven’t gone the way everyone wanted. I’d say please stick by us, we’re plugging away and working hard, and I’m sure the results will come. We just need a bit of luck on our side!”