TIGERS notched their seventh straight Premier League win - but only after teenage star Josh Auty suffered a massive scare after a high-speed crash.
Auty put in another heroic shift for the Owlerton side against the high-flying Hertfordshire team, especially after being clattered by former Tiger Robbie Kessler in his first ride.
As the two hurtled into the first turn of the last lap, Kessler flung out his back wheel and caused the 19-year-old to high-side. Auty required quarter of an hour of treatment on the track.
But he was able to walk away – and even take his part in the re-run before going on to rack-up a double-figure score as Sheffield easily claimed all three points to continue their climb up the league table.
Auty chalked up two wins including a spectacular overtake of Aussie Kevin Doolan in heat 11, when he battled from third to challenge the Rocket and switched lines superbly to win the chase to the chequered flag.
Rye were well adrift at 23-13 after only six races, Tigers having banged in two 5-1s inside the first three heats.
The visitors used tactical rides to stem the tide but with Sheffield firing on all cylinders there was no way they were going to halt the home side's run of wins. Richard Hall top scored with 13, including three wins, and Ricky Ashworth, still sore after two heavy crashes in recent weeks, was paid for double figures.
New boy Simon Lambert was also good value for his eight points, winning his first ride in a Tigers' racejacket and adding another later in the match.
Rye were effectively a two-man team, with Doolan and Jordan Frampton both having two victories with Chris Neath the only other Rocket to take the flag first.
SHEFFIELD: Richard Hall 13+1, Josh Auty 10, Ricky Ashworth 9+2, Simon Lambert 8+1, Josef Franc 7, High Skidmore 5+1, Paul Cooper 3+1.
RYE HOUSE: Kevin Doolan 12, Jordan Frampton 12, Chris Neath 6, Stefan Ekberg 4+1, Robbie Kessler 3+1, Kyle Hughes 2, Lee Strudwick 0.
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