TERRIFIC Tigers pulled off a stunning win over Premier League title favourites King's Lynn at Owlerton last night – despite looking down and out at one stage.

With Australian sensation Darcy Ward – the teenager tipped as a future world champion – scorching to three straight wins and the Stars racking up the first five race victories, Tigers found themselves staring at defeat in their home league opener as they trailed 30-24 with six races to go.

But in a remarkable turn-around, sparked by a controversial exclusion for Ward, Sheffield rammed in three 5-1s to take all three points on offer.

Tigers' first maximum heat win came in heat 10 as Ricky Ashworth and Hugh Skidmore fought off the previously unbeaten ex-Owlerton man Emiliano Sanchez.

But the key moment came when Ward missed the start in heat 11 as Tigers' Paul Cooper and Josh Auty sped into the lead. The Aussie managed to round Auty, but then ran into the back of Cooper and was sent clattering with the race being awarded to the hosts.

That put Sheffield in front for the first time and at 34-32 with renewed confidence they never looked back. Two successive 4-2s put Sheffield in command and it was another 5-1, courtesy of Richard Hall and Joel Parsons in the 14th which made certain of the points.

Ashworth was top performer for the home side with 13, but it was a solid all-round display which left the big crowd delighted – especially with 18-year-old Skidmore bagging paid 10 on his league debut, including some stunning passing from the back.

TIGERS: Ricky Ashworth 13, Richard Hall 9, Hugh Skidmore 7+3, Paul Cooper 7+1, Chris Mills 5+2, Josh Auty 5+2, Joel Parsons 4+1.

KING'S LYNN: Darcy Ward 14, Kozza Smith 9, Emiliano Sanchez 8, Linus Eklof 5+1, Chris Schramm 4+1, Jan Graversen 0, Tomas Topinka R/R.

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