Joe Screen's return to Owlerton was always going to pull a few people in, and the twin spearhead of the Elite league rejects had the potential to make it a close match, but the shock announcement that Ricky Ashworth was not riding certainly upped the ante. Lee Dicken was also missing but that would probably be seen as another boost for the visitors.

The visitors sped from the gate to lead heat 1. Josef Franc rounded Jamie Courtney on the pits turn at the end of the first lap, but Hugh Skidmore seemed to take ages before rounding Jamie at the start of the last lap. Paul Cooper gratefully accepted the gap left by Nick Morris on the first turn of heat 2 and Arlo did just enough to hold third place and put the home Tigers ahead. Richard Hall trapped ahead to win heat 3 ahead of a hard pressing Travis McGowan. Josef was third and untroubled by John Branney. The visitors make the gate to lead heat 4 but Josh Auty's outside blast took him past Nick Morris exiting turn two and he rounded Josh Grajczonek at the start of the second lap to take the lead. Joe traps ahead in heat 5 and try as he might Richard can't keep up. Sheffield lead by four points.

Josef makes a cracking start to heat 6 so the referee calls them all back, but only after Hugh and Nick clash on the way to the first turn. I'm not sure what damage Hugh sustained but he came out for the rerun on Josh Auty's machine. Josef couldn't repeat the start and followed Josh Grajczonek closely for four laps, while Hugh looked uncomfortable on the borrowed machine which stopped on the last lap. The visitors lead the way again in heat 7 but Paul and Josh are climbing all over John Branney. Paul falls trying an outside pass on the first turn of the second lap, but jumps straight back on. Josh (A) picked off John within a couple more turns and sets off after Travis and come very close to pipping him to the finish line. With the scores level It's down to Hugh and reserve replacement Paul to restore the lead in heat 8. Paul off the inside gate drifted the two visitors wide on the second turn allowing Hugh to switch under them and join him at the front. After a couple of laps Hugh sallied forth leaving Paul on his own and he was just able to hold off the attentions of Nick. Richard trapped ahead in heat 9 and Josh (A) rounded his namesake to set up a 5-1. Richard suddenly slowed as they started the last lap allowing Josh (A) through to take the win but he thankfully had a big enough advantage ahead of Josh (G) even with a flat rear tyre. Hugh and Josef fly into the lead on the first turn of heat 10 and Travis makes no attempt to make a pass. Suddenly Sheffield have opened a twelve point lead, but guess who's in the next heat...?

Joe is on a tactical in heat 11. He gates and stymies every single move that Josh (A) makes on him. Paul does enough to hold off Nick to limit the damage. The home pair make terrible starts in heat 12. Richard takes two laps to get around Nick but John is home and dry by then. Arlo makes all the right moves but obviously can't bring himself to take even a point off a fellow countryman. Joe and Josh (G) power away from the tapes to lead heat 13. Josh (A) spent three laps trying to pass Josef and on the last lap looked much more likely to put a move on Josh (G) than Josef ever did. Sheffield's lead is down to just three points so a heat advantage from 14 would seal the victory. Richard rounded Travis into turn three and with Paul in third place it looked as if the victory was assured, until Nick passed Paul on the inside on the pits turn at the end of the second lap. That set up a grandstand finish with the unbeaten Joe Screen and Josh Grajczonek for the visitors requiring a 5-1 to win the match. Richard Hall and Josh Auty aren't exactly what you might describe as trappers so it really was a last heat decider. Josh (A) gets a cracking start so obviously Darren Hartley (doesn't sound Scottish does it?) calls them all back. Second time around and Joe's bike stops before the first bend. Josh (A) passes Josh (G) into the third turn and they then have a four lap ding-dong battle with Richard right up their exhausts, but it's all academic as Sheffield have triumphed over adversity.

Ricky is back to No.1 in the averages next week so he can afford to take his time to get fit as we would have the guest facility if necessary.

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