LEICESTER gave themselves a real chance of progression to the KO Cup Final with an impressive 54-36 win over holders Sheffield at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park.
Flying Ryan Douglas scored a paid maximum from five rides as the Watling JCB Lions built up an 18-point advantage to take to Owlerton on Thursday for the second leg of the semi-final.
And whilst the job is nowhere near done yet, this was a hugely encouraging all-round performance to defeat a strong side in what was an entertaining meeting.
The sides traded 5-1s in the early stages with Max Fricke and Luke Becker getting the Lions off to a great start, only for the Tigers reserves to respond in the next race.
Douglas and Kyle Howarth flew away from gates one and three in Heat 3 to make it 11-7, and whilst Chris Holder got the better of Sam Masters to win Heat 4, Joe Thompson held on for an important point against Leon Flint for a shared race.
Douglas then rode a stormer in Heat 5 as he and Howarth went either side of Anders Rowe into turn three and Douglas then kept his momentum going to storm around Jack Holder for the victory.
When Fricke and Becker combined for their second 5-1, this time at the expense of Chris Holder, in Heat 6 it put the Lions into a ten-point lead and they looked to be in control.
Sheffield hit back over the next two races with a great effort by captain Josh Pickering to pass Masters in Heat 7 and another 4-2 followed in Heat 8 as Rowe escaped out-front whilst Becker was taking time to overhaul Flint.
Heat 9 was superb from the Lions as the Tigers initially held a 5-1 only for Douglas to burst between Chris Holder and Sedgmen on the back straight, whilst Howarth pegged the inside to go from fourth to second and restore the lead to ten points.
Fricke lost out to Pickering in a shared Heat 10 and the next race also resulted in a 3-3 with Masters and Drew Kemp riding sensibly to keep Rowe behind them.
Kemp had struggled early in the meeting, but he produced the goods big-time in Heat 12 when making the start with Douglas, and the pair then put on a perfect team-riding performance to fend off every attack from Pickering.
Chris Holder ended an up-and-down night with a strong Heat 13 win over Fricke whilst his brother passed Masters for third place to cut the gap to 12 points.
But the Lions still had a big finish to come with Howarth and Kemp combining for maximum points in Heat 14, whilst Douglas completed a brilliant unbeaten personal display with another win in Heat 15 as Fricke split Jack Holder and Pickering for a 4-2 to raise the gap to 18.
Lions manager Stewart Dickson said: “Every one of my riders deserves great credit, which they’ll get over the next day or so, because to beat Sheffield by 18 points is very good.
“I did bring them down to earth very quickly to say not to get ahead of ourselves because Sheffield could wipe that lead out in five heats on Thursday, but that was just to make sure they were on their toes!
“The track was certainly better than last week and the riders enjoyed it, and they should take the plaudits because they did the business against a very good team.
“We were good tonight to send them packing but we may need every one of those 18 points on Thursday – but we’ll worry about that when it comes around.”
LEICESTER 54: Ryan Douglas 14+1, Max Fricke 10+1, Luke Becker 8+2, Kyle Howarth 8+2, Drew Kemp 8+1, Sam Masters 5+1, Joe Thompson 1+1.
SHEFFIELD 36: Jack Holder 9, Chris Holder 7, Josh Pickering 7, Leon Flint 4, Justin Sedgmen 3+1, Anders Rowe 3, Lewis Kerr 3.
