Sheffield Tigers win Pairs title ahead of first leg of promotion showdown

Home pairing Kyle Howarth and Lasse Bjerre saw off their star-studded counterparts from across the second tier to secure more major silverware after their recent title triumph.

Howarth and Bjerre left it late, both blasting around Charles Wright entering the final lap of the decisive race before the Redcar man brought down Howarth on the last bend to hand Sheffield the victory.

After their latest memorable night, the victorious Tigers will be back in action at Owlerton in the first leg of their promotion/relegation race-off against Leicester on Monday night (7.30).

Tigers skipper Kyle Howarth is ready to push for promotion - even if it means he will face an agonising choice.

Howarth has doubled-up between Second Division champions Sheffield and top flight Grand Finalists Wolverhampton.

He’s a popular character at both clubs and, if he helps Tigers beat Leicester in the play-off for promotion he knows he must leave one of his clubs.

Sheffield host the first leg at Owlerton tonight with the return at Leicester on Wednesday.

And he said: “We are going for it, make no mistake about that.

“We go out to win every meeting and this will be no different.

“It would be another major honour for Sheffield to win promotion to the top level and I want to do that and then worry about next season after my last meeting.

“We will need a good lead at home to take to Leicester on Wednesday and with the help of our fans we can achieve that.”

Tigers No.1 Josh Grajczonek remains on the injured list and the club have moved to book former Grand Prix ace Scott Nicholls for tonight with Nick Morris deputising on Wednesday.

Josh Bates and Lasse Bjerre are both available for Simon Stead’s Tigers - but with former British Champion Danny King and Swedish Grand Prix wildcard Kim Nilsson in the Leicester side it will be a tough task.

Tigers also have their Knockout Cup semi-final with Ipswich in a congested week of fixtures with the home leg on Thursday and the return in Suffolk the following night.

SHEFFIELD: Scott Nicholls, Todd Kurtz, Lasse Bjerre, Josh Bates, Kyle Howarth, Jan Graversen, Georgie Wood.

LEICESTER: Kim Nilsson, Lewis Kerr, Pawel Przedpelski, Erik Riss, Danny King, Cameron Heeps, Kyle Newman.