LEICESTER kept up their domination over Sheffield this season with a brilliant 48-42 win at Owlerton to move up to third in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership table.
The Watling JCB Lions were already the only away team to win at the South Yorkshire venue in 2025 as they had previously been successful in the KO Cup, but this was arguably an even better performance.
It was an all-round team effort with plentiful race wins from their heat-leaders, decent points at second-string, and a strong night from their reserves with Drew Kemp taking two wins and Joe Thompson beating opponents in each of his four outings.
The result also gave the Lions the aggregate point, and it moves them above Sheffield in the table, and only four points adrift of leaders Ipswich.
Lions briefly trailed when Jack Holder moved forcefully inside Max Fricke heading into the third bend of Heat 1, and a trading of 4-2s continued with Kemp a clear winner of Heat 2 whilst Thompson held an excellent third place over Justin Sedgmen.
Ryan Douglas hit the front in Heat 3 only for a brave ride by Tigers skipper Josh Pickering to take him around the outside on the first lap, but once again the Sheffield advantage was short-lived as Sam Masters flew around the outside of Chris Holder in Heat 4 whilst Thompson this time got the better of Leon Flint.
Lions went ahead for the first time with a 4-2 in Heat 5 as Fricke neatly moved inside Pickering off turn two, with guest Richard Lawson supplying third place.
The next three races were shared as Leicester maintained a narrow advantage with Masters taking the scalp of Jack Holder in Heat 6, and Thompson again holding firm for third in Heat 8 ahead of Anders Rowe.
There was a huge move in the Lions’ favour in Heat 9 when Kemp and Masters shot out of the start, with Masters riding superbly to maintain second place and keep the hard-charging Pickering behind him for a 5-1 to make it 30-24.
Sheffield could make little headway as Douglas and Kyle Howarth packed in behind Jack Holder in Heat 10, and whilst Fricke lost out to Chris Holder in the next, Lawson held third place to keep the gap at six.
The Tigers threw everything into Heat 12 with Jack Holder taking a tactical substitute ride along with Pickering, but it was the Lions who made the start – and as Douglas checked off and clear, the role of Kemp should not be under-estimated as he delayed the Tigers for the first lap before Holder and Pickering came through, but by then they had no chance of further progress.
Lions skipper Fricke then rode a top-class first turn in Heat 13 to dominate the clash of the big guns, and although Masters lost his unbeaten tag it was still a race which took the visitors closer to overall victory.
And that was secured in Heat 14 as despite a brave ride by Flint to hit the front on turn two, Howarth and Thompson did exactly what was required to keep Sedgmen at the back for the 3-3 the Lions needed.
Manager Stewart Dickson had the luxury of resting Fricke from Heat 15 which turned out to be one of the best of the night as Masters held Jack Holder at bay for three laps before the Sheffield No.1 surged through on the last lap, whilst Howarth got the better of Chris Holder for third.
Dickson said: “I never came here expecting to win to be honest. I thought we’d keep it close, but our boys did well again tonight.
“There was some tough racing out there, some legs getting thrown out either side, and I was very pleased to have it wrapped up before Heat 15.
“It’s pretty much the same as this time last season when we came into a good run of form, and we’ve done it probably around the same time again.
“We fell away later on last year, and that’s a problem we don’t want to happen again. We’re going through a good run at the moment, and it’s important that we maintain it.”
With their league position looking ever stronger, Lions now turn their attention to an immediate bid for silverware in the KO Cup Final as they head to King’s Lynn for the first leg on Monday.
SHEFFIELD 42: Jack Holder 14+1, Chris Holder 9+1, Leon Flint 8, Josh Pickering 7+1, Anders Rowe 3, Lewis Kerr 1, Justin Sedgmen 0
LEICESTER 48: Sam Masters 10+1, Max Fricke 10, Ryan Douglas 9, Drew Kemp 6, Kyle Howarth 5+3, Joe Thompson 4+2, Richard Lawson 4+1
Leicester win aggregate point
