The Silver Ski Rockets put in a determined effort on a track that has never really been a happy hunting ground before eventually coming up short on the Tigers' big, pacy Owlerton circuit.
Tai Woffinden's absence with a shoulder ligament injury was covered by highly popular guest Tomas Topinka, but for once the Czech had a mixed night, scoring 7 points from four starts. Instead, Stefan Ekberg and Tommy Allen led the Rye score-chart, with each paid for 9 points, and Ekberg also unlucky to be excluded from his third outing when nominated as a Tactical Rider for double points.
The Rockets actually won three of the first five races, with those successes by Ekberg, Allen and Robert Mear holding them to within four points, at 17-13. But for Andre Compton's last lap pass of the North Star for second place in Heat 5, Rye could in fact have been even closer, having held a 5-1 position for most of the race.
Sheffield maximums in Heats 6 and 8, backed by a 4-2 in the next race, pulled the Tigers clear to 34-20, before Topinka claimed the Rockets' next race win, driving under Joel Parsons to take the lead on the second lap, with Compton left in third. Any lingering hopes of a visiting comeback disappeared in the next race, however, when the Tactically nominated Ekberg was excluded for bringing down Ben Wilson and Robert Mear was unable to catch the former British U-21 champion in the re-run. The remaining four races brought three drawn results for the Rockets, their clear highlight being Ekberg's win over Parsons and Wilson in Heat 13.
Rye House scorers:
Stefan Ekberg 9 (5 rides, inc 0 as a TR)
Robert Mear 5 (4)
Tomas Topinka (guest) 7 (4)
Tommy Allen 7+2 (5)
Chris Neath 5 (4)
Danny Halsey 0 (4)
Luke Bowen 3+1 (4)
Sheffield scorers:
Ricky Ashworth R/R
Joel Parsons 10+2 (5 rides)
Andre Compton 13+2 (6)
Paul Cooper 8+2 (5)
Ben Wilson 10+1 (6)
Kyle Hughes 3+1 (4)
Lee Smethills 10+1 (4)
