Tigers rampant at first-leg glory

Sheffield Tigers 62,KIngs Lyn Stars 31

AN explosive performance saw Tigers plant one foot in the Premier League Championship Final as they wrenched open a 31-point lead against King's Lynn to take into next week's semi final second leg.

And promoter Neil Machin branded the display the "best of the season" against the division's multi champions.

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Stars finished top of the league table last month and had no hesitation in choosing fourth-placed Sheffield as their opponents in the last four shootout, especially after two thumping home wins against Machin's side earlier in the season, including a record 75-15 score in the Premier Trophy in March.

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But ultra-confident Lynn boss Jonathan Chapman was left kicking himself after his side were sent spinning to their worst defeat of the season.

Said Machin: "This went a long way towards making amends for some horrible results against Lynn this season - but we know the job is only half done. We wanted revenge against them and the boys were superb right down the order, it was a fabulous performance. We have to go to the Norfolk Arena next week and make sure we get the aggregate win, but confidence is going through the roof."

Lynn were expected to push Sheffield all the way but unbelievably found themselves 15-3 down after three successive Sheffield race maximums.

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And even though the Stars grabbed some respite with a fourth race 4-2, Sheffield were cutting in their response with four more 5-1s in the next five heats.

That made the score 40-17 after nine races and shell-shocked Lynn were left looking at a massive damage limitation exercise.

They did try to stem the points flow, but Tigers managed three more heat advantages to lead 54-27 with two to go. After the penultimate race was squared, with former Tigers junior Trevor Harding managing only the visitors fourth race win, Sheffield saved their best until last with a pulsating 5-1 from maximum-men Ricky Ashworth and Andre Compton, who squeezed past Czech star Tomas Topinka in the tightest of back straight battles and went on to take the chequered flag to the delight of the bumper home crowd.

Tigers were superb throughout while only Swede Daniel Nermark managed double figures for the visitors.

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Added Machin: "It was unbelievable what our riders did. We knew that there was a good spirit in the camp and that we needed a good lead to take into the second leg, but to open such a big gap is a testament to the determination in the side.

"We want that title this year and we won't be in the mood to slip up at Lynn next week."

The second leg is in Norfolk next Wednesday.

TIGERS: A. Compton 14+1, R. Ashworth 13+2, B. Wilson 10, P. Cooper 8+3, J. Parsons 7, J. Cockle 6+1, J. Frampton 4+2.

KING'S LYNN: D. Nermark 10, T. Topinka 8, C. Mills 5, T. Harding 4, P. Lee 2, A. Allott 2, B. Compton 0.

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