Sheffield Tigers boss Simon Stead frustrated after tough Premiership battle at King's Lynn

Having fallen 10 points down with nine races gone, the Tigers quickly raced themselves back into contention to trail by two heading into the interval.

But they conceded three 5-1s in the final four races as their opponents moved into the play-off positions and to within two points of them in the overall standings.

“I’m obviously disappointed, but that goes without saying doesn’t it?” said Stead. “It was a tough night all round; we’ve had some individual brilliance but one point from seven rides at reserve just makes the job really difficult for the lads in the main body of the team.

“I am disappointed, especially with our two reserves (Jye Etheridge and Luke Killeen) because they’ve been scoring heavily in the Championship so I came here in good spirits thinking there was a chance we could do something.

“But we’re within ten points and I know King’s Lynn have turned us over at home, but it will be a new date when we face them next time and there’s an aggregate point worth fighting for on top.”

Sheffield’s night got off to a perfect start when guest No1 Richard Lawson teamed up with his former King’s Lynn team-mate Anders Rowe for an opening maximum against their former club.

But the hosts responded to strike three straight advantages to open up a 15-9 lead.

Rowe then maintained his unbeaten start as he took the chequered flag in a shared Heat Five before an all-action Heat Six saw the Tigers concede a second 4-2 with Josh Pickering re-passing home No 1 Max Fricke for second place on several occasions.

Chris Holder made a stunning start to help him on his way to a victory in Heat Seven before Rowe followed suit in the eighth to make it three unbeaten.

For his third successive outing, captain Pickering could only split the home duo as Sheffield again conceded a 4-2, this time leaving them trailing 32–22.

But first Holder and Flint combined before Rowe and Lawson again linked up for consecutive maximums to bring the gap back to two at 34-32.

The hosts came out after the interval intent on increasing their slender advantage and replied with another 5-1 of their own in Heat 12, the hosts immediately adding another to seal the win before ensuring a comfortable win to close the gap on the Tigers in the standings.

King’s Lynn manager Rob Lyon was understandably happy with the outcome.

“We would have taken 10 points at the start of the meeting, so I’m happy with that,” he said. “The difference tonight was our reserves – 13 points from our two, against Sheffield’s one.”

The Tigers will hope to overturn the deficit and grab the aggregate point on offer when the two meet at Owlerton in two weeks’ time.

Sheffield are back at Owlerton on Thursday (7.30pm) when they host Leicester, currently three points ahead in the standings.

King’s Lynn Stars - 50: Chris Harris 14, Jan Kvech 9+3, Jody Scott 8+2, Cooper Rushen 7, Ben Cook 4+2, Jason Edwards 4+1, Max Fricke 4.

Sheffield Tigers - 40: Anders Rowe 14+1, Josh Pickering 8, Chris Holder 7, Leon Flint 5+2, Richard Lawson 5+1, Luke Killeen 1, Jye Etheridge 0.