SHEFFIELD are through to the Knockout Cup Semi-Finals after edging a classic against rivals Belle Vue.
The GP duo of Jack Holder and Tai Woffinden had already levelled the scores on aggregate with a 5-1 over Dan Bewley and Jaimon Lidsey in Heat 15 secured a 49-41 victory on the night.
And when they roared from the gate against Bewley and Brady Kurtz in the showdown the roof threatened to come off at Owlerton.
A classic cup showdown saw the Tigers chip away at the first leg deficit with two 4-2s in the opening three races before a run of four shared heats followed.
Norick Blodorn and Connor Bailey combined for a heat eight 4-2 which restored their eight-point aggregate advantage and when Bewley and Connor Mountain gated on a 5-1 in the next heat Sheffield were looking down the barrel. First Josh Pickering and then Chris Holder both passed the former Tiger on the last lap.
Even so with the Aces still eight up, the odds seemed stacked against the Steel City side until Jack Holder and Woffinden worked their way into a 5-1 position in heat 13 only for Holder to lift dramatically, allowing Dan Bewley to split the pair.
In the penultimate programmed race Josh Pickering rounded fellow Aussie Ben Cook with Jason Edwards holding off Belle Vue’s Rising Star Connor Bailey for a vital third place, setting up the scene for Woffinden and Holder.
Sheffield will face King’s Lynn home and away in the first week of June in the semi-finals.
Sheffield: Tai Woffinden 13, Jack Holder 12+2, Chris Holder 9+1, Josh Pickering 7+1, Kyle Howarth 3, Jason Edwards 3, Dan Gilkes 2.
Belle Vue: Dan Bewley 10+1, Norick Blodorn 7, Jaimon Lidsey 6+2, Ben Cook 6, Brady Kurtz 4+1, Connor Mountain 4+1, Connor Bailey 4.
Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.