ROCKETS team manager John Sampford has paid tribute to the beaten Sheffield Tigers after Rye House's Premier League win.For much of Saturday's victory over the Sheffield Tigers, the match was in the balance.

ROCKETS team manager John Sampford has paid tribute to the beaten Sheffield Tigers after Rye House's Premier League win.

For much of Saturday's victory over the Sheffield Tigers, the match was in the balance.

Just four points in front with only four races left, the Rockets finally put paid to some spirited resistance from the visitors.

Afterwards, team supremo Sampford was full of praise for the travelling Tigers. He said: “To be fair to them, they gave us a brilliant match.

“The night stretched out a bit because of all the incidents but I think everyone was enthralled by it all. There were no holds barred, everyone was getting stuck in and that led to it being such a good night.”