WOLVERHAMPTON will have to overturn an 18 point deficit if they are to make it through to the Sports Insure Premiership Knockout Cup Final.

The Parrys International Wolves lost the first leg of their semi against Sheffield 56-34 in South Yorkshire on Thursday in a meeting that eventually ran away from them late on.

The Monmore men managed just one win in the opening seven races, but with four 3-3s they stayed within eight of the Tigers.

Wolves then dug deep to reel off four straight race winners - but only one of those saw them register a heat advantage as they narrowly closed the gap to six.

But the hosts rallied and finished with three 5-1s in the final four races to put them in the driving seat ahead of the decider at Monmore Green on Monday, June 19.

The Parrys International Wolves are back in home action this coming Monday (June 12, 7.30) in the meantime though as Peterborough visit for the second time this season in the Sports Insure Premiership.

PREMIERSHIP KO CUP SEMI-FINAL, 1st leg
SHEFFIELD 54: Jack Holder 13+1, Tobiasz Musielak 12+1, Kyle Howarth 10+1, Adam Ellis 7+2, David Bellego 6+1, Lewis Kerr 4+3, Dan Gilkes 2.
WOLVERHAMPTON 36: Ryan Douglas 10, Rory Schlein 7+1, Steve Worrall 6+1, Sam Masters 6, Leon Flint 4, Zach Cook 2+1, Luke Becker

Photo credit: PHIL McGLYNN