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Hard-fought victory for Tigers after dramatic night at Owlerton
Sheffield Tigers 47 Newport 42
TIGERS almost came unstuck against Premier League outsiders Newport - but were thankful they didn't end up with at least two of their star men in hospital.
They pocketed two vital points for their efforts and would have had the bonus for finishing six or more ahead had it not been for three key exclusions.
Both Ricky Ashworth and Hugh Skidmore needed lengthy treatment on the track after frightening crashes but they were thankfully able to walk away.
Ashworth came a cropper twice, the first when he rammed into team-mate Skidmore in heat 10 with both riders ending up in a second turn heap, although a battered and bruised Skidmore was surprisingly excluded.
With Ashworth also badly shaken, it handed the Wasps a 5-1 to cut Sheffield's hard-earned six-point lead to 31-29.
For all their bad luck, Tigers had some good fortune when visiting skipper Leigh Lanham's engine blew while leading the next race, gifting the hosts a 5-1 through teenage sensation Josh Auty - who had been harshly excluded from his second ride for clattering Newport's Kyle Legault - and Tigers captain Paul Cooper.
That put Tigers on the winning track, although Ashworth's second crash in heat 13, when he hit the second turn fence, did cost his side the bonus.
However, double figure scores from Franc and Auty did made sure the Tigers avoided a second home league defeat, but Newport snatched their reward when ex-Tiger Legault and the impressive Kim Nillsson - on his Owlerton debut - won the last two heats.
TIGERS: Josef Franc 10+1, Josh Auty 10, Richard Hall 8+2, Paul Cooper 6+2, Ricky Ashworth 5, Simon Lambert 4+3, Hugh Skidmore 4.
NEWPORT: Kim Nilsson 13+1, Kyle Legault 8+2, Leigh Lanham 6, Robin Aspergen 5, Alex Davies 6, Craig Watson 3+1, Todd Kurtz 1.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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