Tigers 'desperate for championship'

The Owlerton side face Rye House in the first leg of the title decider at Owlerton tomorrow with the return in Hertfordshire on Saturday.

And Ashworth, who has been with the club throughout his career, is desperate to build on the stunning semi-final success over reigning champions King's Lynn by lifting the championship for the first time since 2002.

Up until mid-August, Sheffield were out of the play-off picture - and even club bosses Neil Machin and David Hoggart privately admitted they feared failure in the bid to reach the top four.

But away wins over Somerset, Mildenhall and Newport changed all that and their immaculate home record - something they need to preserve tomorrow - helped them through.

"We'd been written off by everybody," said Ashworth. "But all the lads have worked so hard to get where we are now and to win the championship would be a great reward for our efforts.

"None of us ever gave up. It was a difficult time when we knew every week we were going to be without a home meeting because the stadium was flooded and we just couldn't get any momentum going.

"But we've come this far and we're desperate to make it happen. We have riders who can score well around Rye House, people like Joel and Andre, we feel we can do it.

"Obviously the home leg is going to be important and it's the biggest meeting of the season for us. We need our fans behind us in big numbers, I see no reason why we can't build a significant lead which would give us a chance going to their place on Saturday.

"Even I can get around Rye House these days, I've had some pretty poor meetings there in the past but I've got nothing to fear going there with the lads on Saturday. It would be a great way to end the season, for us to win the Premier League and for England to win the Rugby World Cup!"

Coaches will be run from Sheffield to Rye House on Saturday at a cost of 14 and bookings can be made at the track tomorrow.

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