Sheffield through after run-off drama.

Sheffield Pirtek Tigers are through to the Final of the Premier Trophy - but only after an almighty scare at Rye House.

Tigers took a 30-point lead into the second leg of the semi-final courtesy of a 61-31 win at Owlerton on Thursday, but incredibly saw it completely wiped out in the space of 14 heats at Hoddesdon.

With the momentum with them, Edward Kennett and Chris Neath were favourites to give the Rockets a sensational aggregate win in the decider, but whilst Kennett completed a paid maximum Neath was forced to the back by Andre Compton and Ben Wilson.

Premier Trophy rules state that in the event of an aggregate tie a race-off rather than a replay applies, so both teams had to nominate a rider - skipper Compton taking responsibility for Tigers against Kennett.

However, all the pressure was eased within a split-second of the race starting as Kennett suffered a major mechanical failure, and although he eventually coasted off the line, he pulled up completely within half a lap leaving Compton unchallenged.

But if luck was with the Tigers there, it had certainly been against them earlier in the meeting, which they went into using rider replacement for the injured Kyle Legault.
And they got off to the worst possible start when Ricky Ashworth was excluded from Heat 1 for causing a tangle with Kennett on the second lap.

Tigers' only two race wins came in consectutive heats - Compton and Wilson winning four and five - but Rye House scored four 5-1s in the next five races to start dreaming of an almost impossible comeback.

Former Tiger Ross Brady withdrew from his last ride with concussion after a Heat 8 fall caused by a chain failure - but reserve replacement Danny Betson kept the Rockets flying high as he teamed up with Kennett for maximum points in Heat 10.

With three heats to go the aggregate gap was still eight points, but Ashworth fell on the third lap of Heat 13 which was awarded as a Rye 5-1 - and then Sanchez came to grief under a heavy challenge from Betson in Heat 14, which was deemed legal by the referee.

It set up the dramatic finale, but fortunately for Tigers Neath's last place in Heat 15 and Kennett's mechanical misery sent them through after the closest possible finish.