Tigers beat Stoke

THE Pirtek Tigers eased to a comfortable win over Stoke at Owlerton on Thursday night, although the presence of Paul Thorp in the visitors' ranks ensured plenty of interest.Thorp was guesting for Jan Staechmann and put in a strong performance along with former Tiger Robbie Kessler to save the Potters from a heavy defeat as Sheffield gave a solid all-round team effort.Tigers started the meeting with a string of heat advantages to open up a 14-point lead, but Thorp stopped the rot with a fine ride to pass both Sean and Ben Wilson in Heat 6.The Hull skipper then won his tactical ride in Heat 9 after the visitors had fallen 20 points down - and Kessler added another six-pointer later in the meeting.Adam Allott did not have such a happy return to Owlerton as he broke the tapes in his first two rides and had to go off the 15m handicap, although he did finish with a win as Andre Compton suffered engine failure in Heat 11.Tigers then piled on the pressure with two consecutive 5-1s only for the vistors to pull five points back with a 7-2 in Heat 14, and Thorp then had the final word over Compton and Sean Wilson in the last race.Even so, in their current form Tigers will be highly optimistic of taking the aggregate bonus point in the return fixture at Loomer Road on Saturday. TIGERS: Sean Wilson 11+1, Ricky Ashworth 11, Andre Compton 9+2, Kyle Legault 8+2, Ben Wilson 7+1, Paul Cooper 6, Richard Hall 4+2. STOKE: Paul Thorp 14, Robbie Kessler 12, Alan Mogridge 5, Adam Allott 4, Barrie Evans 3, Paul Clews 2, Jack Hargreaves 0.