Sheffield 50, King's Lynn 40DEPLETED Lynn ran out of steam in last night's Premier League clash at Owlerton.Skipper Tomas Topinka was ruled out of the trip north after damaging his ankle in the final race of Lynn's 56-37 derby win over Scunthorpe 24 hours earlier.

Sheffield 50, King's Lynn 40

DEPLETED Lynn ran out of steam in last night's Premier League clash at Owlerton.

Skipper Tomas Topinka was ruled out of the trip north after damaging his ankle in the final race of Lynn's 56-37 derby win over Scunthorpe 24 hours earlier.

Rob Lyon's men managed to defy their numerical advantage to lead at halfway before Sheffield turned on the power to deny the Stars even a losing point for the first time this campaign.

Darcy Ward (paid 14) performed his usual heroics in Topinka's absence ahead of missing the club's weekend KO Cup test at Berwick on World U21 semi final duty.

Kozza Smith (paid nine) continued his injury comeback but fellow reserve Jan Graversen failed to register on a night to forget for the Dane as Sheffield's strength in depth proved decisive.

Ward revelled in the wide open spaces from the off to inflict a rare defeat on Tigers' top man Ricky Ashworth.

Smith trapped in front of Joel Parsons to dictate the reserves before Sheffield asset Emiliano Sanchez used his home track knowledge to fend off the close attentions of Richard Hall.

Ex-Lynn racer Chris Mills held good pal Chris Schramm at bay - Lynn's second string faring little better on a swift re-appearance in the next behind the impressive Smith.

Ward and the improving Eklof finally broke the shared heat spell with a visiting maximum but Ashworth and Aussie teenager Hugh Skidmore replied in kind.

Sanchez and Schramm cashed in after Josh Auty idled in the gate with Parsons grinding to a halt around the sweeping bottom bend.

Smith exacted revenge on Tigers' fans favourite Skidmore in a re-run heat eight with Eklof settling for third to move Lynn six clear at halfway on the scoresheets.

Ward turned in an exhibition display for the Yorkshire public in an unopposed heat nine tour but Graversen was well off the pace to gift Sheffield the minor places.

Ashworth triggered the home fightback alongside young sidekick Skidmore before Ward hit the shale after clipping Cooper in a desperate bid to split the front-running Sheffield duo.

Mills came to the party in heat 12 before Ashworth's sublime defensive line around the top bend repelled Ward's latest assault.

Hall rubber-stamped Sheffield's insurance policy with a penultimate max that left Lynn needing a max of their own to claim even a losing point.

Ward eclipsed Ashworth in a box office skirmish up top but Hall flew off the final turn to pip Sanchez.

Tigers: Ashworth 13, Skidmore 7+3, Mills 5+2, Hall 9+1, Auty 5+2, Parsons 4+1, Cooper 7+1.

Stars: Ward 14, Eklof 5+1, Schramm 4+1, Sanchez 8, Smith 9, Graversen 0.

Former King's Lynn racer Olly Allen will replace Shane Parker in the original line up for next week's Ashley Jones Memorial meeting at the Norfolk Arena.