KING’S LYNN came within a whisker of extending their winning streak and stunning Sheffield - but missed out in a last heat decider in South Yorkshire.
The PSH Environmental Stars produced an impressive fightback, but were edged out 47-43 against a Tigers side who moved to the top of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership standings after maintaining their 100 per cent home record.
A slow start saw the Stars fall 17-7 behind after four races before two 4-2s in the next block reduced the gap to eight.
Heat 8 saw skipper Nicolai Klindt demonstrate a fine example of team riding with guest Rising Star Luke Harrison to keeper former Lynn man Anders Rowe at the back in a share of the spoils before Jan Kvech and Niels-Kristian Iversen took the minor placings in Heat 9.
Still eight down, the men from Norfolk sprung into life and reeled off three straight 5-1s, the pick of the action coming in Heat 12 when Chris Harris came up with a fabulous ride to go from last to second and join Kvech as they moved ahead for the very first time.
But the hosts were back level immediately in Heat 13 with Chris Holder somehow squeezing by both Richard Lawson and Iversen with his brother Jack already out front.
But as Kvech took the chequered flag for a fourth time to total 16 points from his seven outings, a last heat decider was on the cards.
Whilst it was Sheffield’s Holder brothers who made the best start, Nicolai Klindt suffered mechanical issues and Harris, unfortunately, had no answer to the home heat-leaders.
King’s Lynn team manager Rob Lyon said: “We knew they were a little bit understrength with Josh Pickering out.
“But we had a bad start when we lost the gate toss which is important here really.
“But we pulled back, rode really well as a team and the boys did very, very well.
“Heat 13 we had gates one and three and even though the Holder boys were out, I thought if we could split it and get a 3-3 at the very least, we stood a chance, but it wasn’t to be.
“We just lost out in the very final race against the two Holder boys who made unbelievable starts off gates two and four which were clearly the worst gates.
“But that’s the way it is and credit to those boys for pulling it off for Sheffield.
“I’m pleased with the effort and four points is more than achievable to get back at home in the return leg in a couple of weeks.”
King’s Lynn are back on the road on Monday (June 23, 7.30pm) when they travel to champions Belle Vue.
SHEFFIELD 47: Chris Holder 12+2, Jack Holder 11+2, Leon Flint 11, Anders Rowe 7, Lewi Kerr 5+1, Justin Sedgmen 1+1, Josh Pickering r/r. KING’S LYNN 43: Jan Kvech 16, Chris Harris 10+2, Nicolai Klindt 8+1, Richard Lawson 4+1, Niels-Kristian Iversen 3+1, Luke Harrison 2, Ben Cook r/r.
