Sheffield loose away!! 55-37

THE Pirtek Tigers will need to pull back an 18-point deficit in Thursday's second leg at Owlerton if they are to take an aggregate win over much-fancied King's Lynn. But there were several encouraging signs from the first leg at the Norfolk Arena with the visitors recovering well after a poor start. Despite a win from Ricky Ashworth in Heat 1, Tigers conceded four 5-1s in the space of five races to go 30-12 down after Heat 7 - and there was also a painful start to the season for Ben Wilson who needed attention after crashing out of the first race. Emiliano Sanchez took his first win in Tigers colours in Heat 10 as Kyle Legault held Daniel Nermark behind him for a Sheffield 5-1 to reduce the deficit to 14 points. Legault was excluded from his final ride after being adjudged the cause of a three-man accident on the second bend of Heat 14, and the Stars took full advantage with a 5-1 over Benji Compton. But Tigers finished well with a 4-2 over the previously unbeaten Stars duo of Tomas Topinka and Kevin Doolan with skipper Andre Compton taking the win and Ashworth coming home third. KING'S LYNN: Tomas Topinka 14, Kevin Doolan 11+1, Troy Batchelor 9+1, Chris Mills 7+2, Daniel Nermark 7, Trevor Harding 6+2, Simon Lambert 1. SHEFFIELD: Ricky Ashworth 9, Andre Compton 8, Emiliano Sanchez 7, Ben Wilson 5+1, Benji Compton 3+2, Paul Cooper 3+1, Kyle Legault 2+1.