HOLDER ROARS BACK TO SHEFFIELD FOR 2023

Australian star Jack Holder will lead Sheffield’s SGB Premiership title bid in 2023 after Tigers unveiled him as their first signing.

Holder raced to 10 paid 11 points from four outings as Sheffield signed off their 2022 season with a 54-36 win over Ipswich at Owlerton on Monday.

Tigers just missed out on their first-ever top-flight title, when they were beaten by Belle Vue in the SGB Premiership Grand Final on October 13.

But they are determined to go one better next season, and team manager Simon Stead is delighted to have started his team-building plans by recruiting the Speedway GP star.

He said: “It’s great to start off by bringing your No.1 back. I’m delighted that we’ve got Jack back because he sort of feels at home here.

“We’ve talked to him about our plans with how we want to make the team look and how that’s going to shape up, and he’s excited by that, which is obviously really, really pleasing.”

Despite completing the play-offs nearly two weeks ago, Tigers still had an outstanding fixture to race against Ipswich.

They ended the year on a high as Connor Mountain impressed on 11 paid 13 points at reserve, while guest Sam Masters added 11 and former British champion Adam Ellis scored nine paid 12. Aussie star Jason Doyle top-scored for the Witches on 15 paid 16.

While the meeting made no difference to the team’s title quest, Stead paid tribute to the Tigers fans for backing their side.

He said: “I just want to say a big thanks to all those fans who came out and then stayed behind to hear from the lads and hear the news as well. I hate the phrase ‘nothing fixture’ because you always want to win, and it was a nice way to sign off our regular league campaign.”

Elsewhere, King’s Lynn defeated Belle Vue 55-35 in their final SGB Premiership club match of 2022.

The British top-flight action now concludes with rounds five and six of the SGB Premiership Pairs, which take place at Leicester on Tuesday and Belle Vue on Thursday.