Brummies step closer to final

Birmingham are just 15 races away from reaching the Premier Trophy Final after a stunning 57-37 win over Sheffield in front of a bumper crowd at Perry Barr.

The BRC Roofing Brummies are now favourites to go through with the second leg at Owlerton Stadium tonight.

Skipper Jason Lyons (15) was in his usual stunning form, with five wins from his six outings.

New signing Craig Watson (14) was superb and James Birkinshaw (11+2) was spectacular at reserve against his former club.

Sheffield used skipper Andre Compton as a tactical substitution in his second outing, when the home side were 20-10 ahead.

He managed second place from a 15-metre handicap – but a 4-4 race result was nothing more than damage limitation for Tigers.

Birmingham enjoyed two straight maximums to go 36-20 ahead and the Yorkshiremen were in deep trouble with several members of the team failing to beat opposing riders.

The BRC Roofing Brummies stretched their lead to 20-points in Heat 13 with a fine win by Watson, with Mills third.

Although reserve Lee Smethills restored some pride with a win in the penultimate race for Sheffield, Brummies skipper Lyons won Heat 15 to complete a comfortable win for the home side.

Brummies: Jason Lyons 15, Craig Watson 14, James Birkinshaw 11+2, Chris Mills 9, Lee Smart 6+1, Jack Hargreaves 2+1, Adam Roynon R/R.

Sheffield: Andre Compton 14+1, Ricky Ashworth 11, Joel Parsons 4, Lee Smethills 4, Ben Wilson 2, Kyle Hughes 1+1, Paul Cooper 1.

Birmingham's Mercom Bulls Academy team drew 15-15 with Poole.