The Sheffield Window Centre Tigers were given a lesson in gating by their colleagues from the higher division. While normally they would be able to battle back into contention they found themselves unable to match the pace of the Elite League champions with only Ben, André and the spectacular Ricky Ashworth able to put together passes.

Rory Schlein trapped ahead in heat 1 with André very slow from the tapes. André rounded Billy Janniro on the pits turn but Billy reclaimed third spot on the second turn and started closing in on Joel, passing him on the last bend for a Bees 5-1. New signings Lee Smethills and Sam Martin gated ahead of Stanislaw Burza in heat 2 and looked set for a shared heat until Sam's machine slowed on the last lap gifting Stanislaw a point. Ben and Ricky flew into the lead in heat 3 with Chris Harris picking up a place when Tommy Allen drifted far too wide on the pits turn. Simon Stead and Stanislaw Burza were never troubled by Paul or Sam in heat 4. Ben blasted around the outside and passed Billy on the third turn to lead heat 5 with Ricky in hot pursuit. Billy went for the outside line on the last lap but was blocked by Ben and very nearly passed by Ricky. Good close race leaving the Bees four points ahead.

André got the drop on Simon in heat 6 and quickly extended a big lead, and Joel's third place narrowed the gap to two points. The British Champion Chris Harris and Oliver Allen made mincemeat of Paul and Lee in heat 7, and it was the same story as the Bees gated ahead in heat 8. Simon led heat 9 but Ricky was on fire and dived into the lead on the third turn on the second lap and then held off Simon's efforts. Chris Harris took André very wide on the second turn allowing his team mate into the lead and the Tigers skipper never made up the lost ground. The Bees now lead by twelve points and the Tigers have a steep hill to climb.

Paul is last from the tapes in heat 11 and although he rounds Lee at the end of the second lap he never looked like catching the Bees. Ricky is on a tactical ride in heat 12 and makes an electric start. With Ricky riding high and wide Chris Harris thought better of dicing with him and settled for second place. Simon and Rory trapped ahead in heat 13 but André gave chase. He blasted around the outside to draw level with Rory at the end of lap 2 and completed the pass on the second bend to claim second place and then switched back down the inside off the last bend and very nearly caught Simon at the chequered flag. Good entertainment. Oliver and Stanislaw took a comfortable maximum in heat 14 with slow starting Ben eventually passing Lee on the third lap. Surprisingly it is Ben who gets the nod alongside Ricky for heat 15, while Colin Pratt selects Simon and the very lively Billy Janniro. Ricky finds drive to pass Simon on the inside of the second turn to take the lead while Ben is left trailing the field.

The Bees had no weak links with Billy Janniro excellent value for money and Stanislaw Burza looking a very different rider to the Berwick Bandit who visited Owlerton last season (1+1 from 4 rides!). A 19 point victory for the Elite League champions which doesn't bode well for the return leg at Brandon. Even with Richard Hall and Tai Woffinden bolstering the Tigers it looks as if the Bees will have a field day. Perhaps if they went off a handicap...?

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