SHEFFIELD TIGERS may have kicked off their 2026 season on a losing note but team manager Simon Stead saw plenty of promisiung signs.

The Tigers were beaten by hosts Belle Vue Aces 48-42 in a last heat decider in the first contest of their Premiership Knockout Cup, Northern Section.

But, despite the narrow loss, Stead believes his side are in a good position to take the aggregate point when the two teams meet again at Owlerton on Thursday night.

“That’s the first meeting out of the way, we’ve put ourselves in with a real shout of getting the aggregate point,” said Stead. “The lads are really looking forward to getting back out on home shale competitively.

PROMISING START: Sheffield Tigers' team manager Simon Stead was pleased with his team's opening night efforts. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

placeholder image — PROMISING START: Sheffield Tigers' team manager Simon Stead was pleased with his team's opening night efforts. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

“For an opening night display, overall though,I think there are reasons to be encouraged and there are definitely positives we can take moving forward.

“The performances of the lower end of the team was the most pleasing aspect for sure.

“And when you consider a few of the teething problems a few of our other lads had, on most other nights we’d have been walking away with a win in the bag.”

Leon Flint topped the Tigers points list when he went unbeaten by an opponent in three of his four rides including when he got the better of World No 2 Brady Kurtz in Heat 10.

Jye Etheridge demonstrated some sharp reactions away from the tapes and finished with three second places from five outings.

Anders Rowe’s scorechart was up and down, but overall had a solid night with the highlight coming in Heat Eight when he led a 5-1 with debutant Luke Killeen who also showed some early promise.

“It was a great performance,” said Aces boss Mark Lemon. “It’s always tough to get the first meeting out of the way, you really just want to get a win and that’s what the boys did.

“It was quite gritty behind the scenes. Brady was under the weather, Will (Cairns) had a mechanical nightmare, and obviously Norick took that bang in his first race and had to pull out.

“That put some pressure on the boys but Tate stepped up and did a really good job, which we were really pleased to see.”

BELLE VUE – 48: Brady Kurtz 12, Dan Bewley 11+1, Tate Zischke 10+2, Peter Kildemand 7+1, Zach Cook 7+1, Norick Blodorn 1 (withdrawn), William Cairns 0.

SHEFFIELD – 42: Leon Flint 8+1, Josh Pickering 7+1, Chris Holder 6+1, Jack Holder 6, Anders Rowe 6, Jye Etheridge 6, Luke Killeen 3+2.