LEICESTER were beaten 50-40 at Sheffield on a frustrating night in South Yorkshire.
The Watling JCB Lions could only manage five race winners against the reigning champions as they suffered successive defeats in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.
The Lions fell behind in Heat Two but were able to stay within four points of Sheffield until the mid-point of the meeting.
A 4-2 against in Heat Eight extended the gap to six points and team boss Stewart Dickson opted to use his tactical substitute option straight away.
Ryan Douglas missed the start alongside team-mate Luke Becker though as the hosts opened up a ten point lead which then became 12 in Heat Ten.
Max Fricke and Richard Lawson hit back with a 5-1 in Heat 11 though, but when Fricke and Becker were on the receiving end of a maximum in Heat 13, the contest was beyond reach for the Lions.
Lawson, who scored 9+1, said: “We were just off the mark and not firing at all really which was a bit of a shame.
“I knew they had Jack (Holder) missing, with which the way he’s been going I thought that would’ve helped us.
“But they’re still a solid team, Chris (Holder) and Tai (Woffinden), they were unbelievable and the rest did their jobs.
“We struggled getting off the starts with consistency and that was making life hard for ourselves when they’re that quick.”
The Watling JCB Lions are now aiming to get back on the winning path in a key league home clash against Oxford at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena, Beaumont Park on Monday (May 27, 7.30pm).
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP
SHEFFIELD 50: Chris Holder 14, Tai Woffinden 11, Kyle Howarth 9+1, Rory Schlein 8+3, Jake Mulford 5+1, Jason Edwards 3, Jack Holder R/R.
LEICESTER 40: Ryan Douglas 10+1, Richard Lawson 9+1, Luke Becker 6+1, Sam Masters 6, Sam Hagon 4+1, Max Fricke 3, Drew Kemp 2+1 Sheffield win aggregate bonus point 96-84.
