FOXES 42 SHEFFIELD 48
NORTHAMPTON Foxes were on the receiving end of one of the most spectacular comebacks in recent speedway seasons as they were stunned 48-42 by Sheffield at the Shaleway.
With just four races to go the Foxes looked well on course for a comfortable victory to back up their win last time out at home to Leicester.
They led by eight points at that stage before the Tigers pulled off an unbelievable recovery to secure a 4-2 and then three successive 5-1s in those final races.
Former World Champion Chris Holder was in vintage form, and he combined with brother Jack for maximum results in Heats 13 and 15, whilst a shock 5-1 in Heat 14 from Jye Etheridge and Leon Flint also did major damage.
It was a totally unexpected turnaround because in the first 11 races, the Foxes had produced their best performance of the season, functioning as an all-round team and with all of their regular riders enjoying strong outings.
Jaimon Lidsey and Kye Thomson won the opening two races, the latter seeing Luke Harrison join in for a 5-1 to give the Foxes the early advantage.
The Tigers showed their capabilities with 5-1s in Heats 3 and 5 as they went 17-13 up, but the mid-stages of the meeting were dominated by Northampton as they appeared to take control.
Troy Batchelor charged away with the lead in Heat 6, backed up by Lidsey to relegate Anders Rowe to third place, and that was followed up by another maximum from skipper Nicolai Klindt and Thomson in what turned out to be Chris Holder’s only defeat.
Foxes kept the momentum going with a 4-2 in Heat 8 to make it 27-21, Rowe splitting Batchelor and Harrison in the early stages, and even when the Tigers strengthened in Heat 9 with the inclusion of Jack Holder as a tactical substitute, Jonas Jeppesen pulled off a great ride to win and ensure a 3-3.
Batchelor suffered problems in Heat 10 as the Tigers clawed a couple of points back, but when Jack Holder was left at the back of Heat 11 with Klindt and Thomson storming to another 5-1, the Foxes led 37-29 and were in the box seat.
A clash between Jeppesen and Jye Etheridge in the early stages of Heat 12 resulted in the Foxes rider retiring from the race as Sheffield took a 4-2 with Chris Holder ahead of Harrison, who could be delighted with his overall display.
Then the Holder brothers gated to a 5-1 in Heat 13 over Lidsey and Klindt which ramped up the pressure – but the big surprise was a Tigers 5-1 in Heat 14 as Etheridge made a fast start before he and Flint defied every effort by Thomson to find a way through.
That suddenly meant Sheffield were favourites heading into Heat 15, and although Klindt was in contention in the early stages the door was firmly shut by Jack Holder on the back straight and the Tigers were able to celebrate the most remarkable of results.
Foxes promoter Paul Hunsdon said: “This is a real hard one to take. It’s the first time that we’ve really been in control of a meeting and we’ve managed to not get over the line and it’s really, really disappointing.
“There are a lot of disappointed people in the pits tonight, and as a management we’re a little bit stunned and shocked really with how it’s turned out.
“We were so in control of the meeting with four heats to go, so it’s hard to take. You can’t really point fingers at anyone, and no rider is going to turn up and have an off-night on purpose, but it’s just really frustrating.
“In Heats 13 and 14 we just seemed to find ourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time on the track, and when you’re up against the Holder boys in Heat 15, both on a high and fantastic riders, it’s going to be tough.
“We need to pick ourselves up as a team, what’s happened has happened and we have to put it behind us and concentrate on the next meeting. If there any lessons to be learnt, they will be addressed over the next week or so.
“We win as a club and lose as a club so we will stick tightly together, and what we need to do to put things right will be done.”
The Foxes have a week to mull over the result and plan for future action, with Ipswich the next visitors to the Shaleway on Monday June 29.
ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP R1
NORTHAMPTON 42: Nicolai Klindt 9+1, Kye Thomson 9+1, Jaimon Lidsey 7+1, Luke Harrison 6+2, Troy Batchelor 6, Jonas Jeppesen 3, Lewis Kerr 2.
SHEFFIELD 48: Chris Holder 16, Jack Holder 12+4, Anders Rowe 8+1, Leon Flint 7+2, Jye Etheridge 4, Luke Killeen 1, Josh Pickering r/r.