Sponsored by
Speedway: Tigers triumph after crash drama
TIGERS claimed three precious Premier League points as King's Lynn suffered a shattering blow on the first turn of the opening race.
Sheffield Tigers 56 King's Lynn 37
Aussie star Kevin Doolan tangled with home ace Ricky Ashworth and landed awkwardly on his back while also suffering wrist injuries.
Ashworth was able to walk away but Doolan was taken to the Northern General Hospital for X-rays and a check up - and his absence left the Norfolk Arena outfit with a massive hole in their side.
Tigers put in another teak-tough performance with Richard Hall unbeaten by an opponent for the second successive week. Josh Auty and Josef Franc also scored double figures.
It could have been so different had Doolan escaped unhurt with the Stars gleaning just one point as reserves Chris Mills and Darren Mallet took his four programmed rides.
Two home 5-1s in the first five heats left Tigers leading 20-10 and even though the Stars managed to stem the tide there was no way back.
Joe Haines emerged as the Stars' lone hero, chalking up 14 points and proving two of the visitors' four race wins.
His first came in a heat 8 tactical ride when, after an uninspiring third place in his opener, Haines shot from the tapes to win ahead of Sheffield's Hugh Skidmore and former Star Simon Lambert.
That nibbled three points back and gave Lynn and fighting chance of a losing bonus point, but two 4-2s inside the next three races put Sheffield 41-28 ahead.
Lynn's cause wasn't helped by Mills' first exclusion in heat 11 when he forced both Smith and home reserve Paul Cooper into the first-turn fence.
The former Tigers rider had a torrid night, trying to impress the club with ditched him at the end of last year.
He also hit the dust while last in heat 14 and was again excluded, summing up a tough night's work for the Norfolk men.
* Sheffield: Richard Hall 13+2, Josh Auty 10+1, Josef Franc 10, Hugh Skidmore 7+2, Ricky Ashworth 7+1, Paul Cooper 6+1, Simon Lambert 3.
Got a view? Add your comment below.
Follow The Star on Twitter and Facebook:
For breaking news and sport follow The Star on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sheffieldstar and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sheffieldstar .
JOIN THE STAR READER PANEL: The Star is YOUR newspaper, so tell us what you think about it and what you want to see - CLICK HERE.
Don't miss our daily pull-outs - only in the The Star: Monday Star Sport, Tuesday Class Act; Wednesday Business; Thursday Grassroots; Friday Time Out; Saturday Retro. Subscribe to The Star - CLICK HERE
READ MORE
Subscribe to The Star or Green 'Un
Visit our Matchday Centre for free live coverage of every match
Football headlines. Football gossip. Blades news Owls news Reds news. Millers news. More rugby. More boxing. Sports columnists.
All sport categories
Watch Premiership highlights, international football, golf, tennis, darts and much more - click here
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light snow
Temperature: -6 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
