LEICESTER are up to second place in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership table after a terrific team display to defeat Sheffield 49-41 at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont.
The Watling JCB Lions were well worth their victory, which arguably could have been by more, and there were some excellent performances in their side.
Ryan Douglas once again looked every inch a No.1 at this level with some superb racing moves against top opposition, and Nick Morris enjoyed his best performance of the season so far.
Reserves Drew Kemp and Joe Thompson recovered from the setback of conceding a 5-1 in their opening ride to play a vital role, scoring 15 points between them and being involved in four 5-1s of their own, with both riders taking the scalp of 2012 World Champion Chris Holder.
There was one concern at the end of the night with Kyle Howarth taking a heavy tumble in Heat 14, and although he was able to walk back to the pits he will be assessed ahead of Monday’s trip to King’s Lynn.
Douglas firmly stated his intentions with a win over World No.5 Jack Holder in Heat 1 as the Lions opened up with a 4-2, only for Tigers reserves Nathan Ablitt and Jye Etheridge to record a 5-1 in the next as Kemp suffered mechanical issues as he left the start.
Morris and Howarth hit straight back with maximum points over Chris Holder in Heat 3, whilst skipper Sam Masters recorded a good win over his Tigers counterpart Josh Pickering in the next with Thompson third to put Leicester four points up.
Jack Holder led a shared Heat 5 but the home side gained a big result in Heat 6 when Douglas made a fast start and Kemp rode strongly to close off the threat of Pickering on turn three for an excellent 5-1.
But Sheffield responded in Heat 7 with Chris Holder sending Kemp wide in forceful fashion on the exit of bend two enabling his colleague Leon Flint to join him as the Lions’ lead was reduced to four.
The up-and-down nature of mid-meeting continued with some fine racing in Heat 8 with Thompson doing well on lap one to make to the front whilst Morris worked his way past both Ablitt and Anders Rowe on successive laps for a Leicester 5-1.
That promoted the Sheffield management team of Garry May and Ryan Guest to insert Jack Holder into Heat 9 for a tactical substitute ride, and the move paid dividends after a scare for Pickering, who made an error on turn four to enable Morris to go past, only to re-pass the Lions rider on the last lap for a 5-1 to bring his side back into contention.
But once again the Tigers’ work was undone in the next as Douglas and Kemp shot inside Holder on the back straight of Heat 10, which was a sweet result for Kemp given the events of his previous ride, leaving Leicester 34-26 up.
Lions held a 5-1 position again in Heat 11 but Jack Holder pulled off a fine move at the end of lap one to go between Kemp and Masters to save a 3-3 for his side.
But Heat 12 was effectively the clincher for the Lions, brought about by a superb first bend from Thompson to get the better of Holder, and he then defied his opponent throughout whilst Morris headed up the home team’s fifth 5-1 of the night.
Victory was secured in the best possible way as Douglas produced a truly world class move in Heat 13, going around Jack Holder into the third bend and then switching back inside Pickering off turn four to go from third to first in the space of less than half a lap.
Lions looked set to extend their lead with Kemp making a firm pass on Flint to take the lead only for third-placed Howarth to come down on the third lap. With the race stopped when the riders were well into lap four, the referee somewhat unusually ordered a re-run, and this time Flint got his revenge on Kemp by bundling his way past on the third lap.
And the Tigers then had the consolation of denying Douglas a second successive home maximum in Heat 15 courtesy of flying starts from their duo, although the Leicester No.1 still capped off a splendid display by rounding Jack Holder on lap three, just running out of time to catch Pickering.
Leicester manager Stewart Dickson said: “I’d certainly have taken 49-41 before the meeting, but I do think if we’d scored 51 or 52 it wouldn’t have been unjustified.
“After losing at Northampton last week, getting the win was important, and that was a good win against a good, good side, and it gives us something to fight for when we go there next month.
“There was a good atmosphere between all the riders tonight, some really hard racing, and fair play to everybody.
“I know there were some fisticuffs last time we met, but this was a good atmosphere and obviously we’re pleased to have won. It’s a good two points for us, and obviously we hope Kyle is okay after his fall.
“I do apologise for the spectators that we were unable to get more water into the track after Heat 11 so there was more dust than we wanted, although I don’t think it harmed the racing.”
LEICESTER 49: Ryan Douglas 14, Nick Morris 11+1, Drew Kemp 8+2, Joe Thompson 7+1, Sam Masters 5+1, Kyle Howarth 4+2, Dan Thompson r/r.
SHEFFIELD 41: Jack Holder 14, Josh Pickering 9+2, Leon Flint 6+2, Chris Holder 5, Nathan Ablitt 4, Jye Etheridge 2+1, Anders Rowe 1.
