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PETERBOROUGH produced a blistering finish to launch their Premier League campaign with a bang on Saturday night.The Panthers slammed in three 5-1s in the final four races to swoop for a fine 48-42 win at Rye House in a terrific clash.Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen made a stunning return to his former club by leading home fellow double-figures stars Emil Grondal in heat 12 and captain Ulrich Ostergaard in heat 15 for two of the full houses.Jakobsen scored 13 points for the visitors, backed up by Grondal on 12+2 and Osteragaard on 12+1, with Edward Kennett scoring 12 for the home side.Panthers caretaker boss Dale Allitt said: “It was exactly the start to the league season we wanted. We showed we have a lot of fighters in the team to keep ourselves in a position from which we could win the meeting.“Nikolaj had a great return to his former track while Emil and Ulrich were also superb. To have three riders in double-figures on the road is no mean feat.”Rye House manager Peter Schroeck said: “This proves to you just how strong this league is, and you can’t take it for granted. We had a couple of little hiccoughs today, and we couldn’t really prepare the track the way we wanted it because of the weather - but that’s not an excuse because we came up against a very strong team.“We just have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get on with it. In all sports, you have your ups and downs, and it’s a long season. Today we had a bit of a reality check, but we will build ourselves back up again. It’s as simple as that.”In the League Cup, Edinburgh gained revenge for a recent home defeat against Berwick by winning 48-42 at Shielfield Park.The Monarchs’ top four dominated the meeting, taking 12 race wins, with Ryan Fisher leading the way with a paid maximum.Berwick had hoped to salvage an unlikely draw with two late 5-1s, but those hopes were ended in Heat 15 when Fisher got the better of Theo Pijper (12+2) with Sam Masters third.Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “That was a lot better, it will make one or two people take notice of us. Our top four were excellent and that gives the less experienced riders a chance to settle in.”Bandits manager Scott Courtney said: “The weather really ruined our show tonight and it meant that gating was all-important, and Edinburgh were giving us a lesson in gating.“But they also had guys who when out in front were virtually untouchable, so they worked hard for their win, as indeed we did when we won up there a week ago.”Meanwhile Workington maintained their unbeaten start to their League Cup campaign with a 50-42 home victory over Newcastle, which crucially prevented the Diamonds from picking up a match point.Kenneth Hansen and Claus Vissing both scored 12 for the Comets, with guest Richie Worrall top-scoring on 14+1 for the visitors.Comets boss Tony Jackson said: “It was a superb team effort from all seven of the lads, and just what we asked for before the meeting. We made a dream start by taking maximum points from the opening two heats and basically held that advantage throughout. “Going into the final race we knew that a shared heat would be enough to stop the Diamonds picking up a match point; and although the hitherto unbeaten Claus got squeezed out by the Worrall twins, Kenneth made a dream start to lead all the way and secure the 3-3 that we needed.”
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GLASGOW will bring in Ricky Wells to guest for ‘flu victim Richard Lawson in their League Cup clash with Berwick on Sunday.The Bandits include former in-form ex-Tiger Theo Pijper, who was a title-winner at Ashfield in 2011.Pijper said: “I think the Berwick promotion and the people around them need a bit of credit for what they're all doing. We have Scott Courtney now as team manager and he's doing really well. He's very keen."We'll definitely give it a go at Glasgow. We need to all perform at the same time and if we do, we'll get somewhere. We have plenty of Ashfield experience in the team too.”In the National Trophy, Buxton host Northern group leaders Birmingham looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Perry Barr on Wednesday.But the Hitmen will be without both Jade Mudgway and Steve Jones, with the latter to be replaced by former Buxton rider Tom Woolley as a guest.Manager Jason Pipe said: “Steven Jones is ruled out with a knee injury after laying his bike down at Birmingham going in to turn one as he thought Ryan Blacklock had packed up because he'd straightened up and then started to slide again.“Stevie didn't know which way he was going, he then got his leg trapped and bent under his bike - there's a lot of swelling around his left knee. He's been told rest up for a few days and can't even go to work.”Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: “The trip to Buxton will be a very different sort of challenge for the team than what we’ve had so far but with the form we’re in we’re definitely targeting another victory.“The whole team is full of confidence right now – especially the four riders who did themselves so, so proud in Thursday’s British Under-21 Final.“They’ll all be looking to contribute some big points and keep the momentum going ahead of Wednesday’s all important National League opener against Cradley in the big derby.”Meanwhile Mildenhall boss Kevin Jolly expects a tough test from the Isle of Wight in the Fen Tigers’ second National Trophy home fixture at West Row.Adam Sheppard steps in for the injured Luke Ruddick for the home side, whilst Connor Mountain hopes to be fit – whilst the Warriors have Lee Smart (pulled back muscle) and Matt Saul (ankle ligaments) on the sidelines, with club No.8 George Piper coming in for the latter.Jolly said: “We need to get our National Trophy campaign up and running. There are no easy meetings at this level and the Warriors’ top five feature plenty of ex Fen Tigers who know their way around our track. “However I saw enough (last) Sunday from our lads in extremely difficult circumstances to feel confident of victory.”Warriors boss Neil Vatcher said: “Obviously this is not an ideal start to our campaign but unfortunately that is the nature of the game, and we believe we have enough strength in dept to claim some reward in Suffolk.“I believe the boys have all had a good start to the season so far, and there's no reason why we can't come away with a win, especially as the Mildenhall side themselves have picked up a few knocks so far this season.”Newcastle stalwart Christian Henry stages his Testimonial at Brough Park, with racing getting underway at 3pm.The meeting will consist of four mini-teams representing Henry’s former clubs Glasgow, Newcastle, Edinburgh and King’s Lynn.Riders confirmed include Ludvig Lindgren, Steve Worrall, Rene Back, Stuart Robson, Anton Rosen, Andre Compton and Lewis Kerr, with a host of names from the past also set to take to the track.(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY APRIL 17:LEAGUE CUP: Glasgow v Berwick 3pmNATIONAL TROPHY: Buxton v Birmingham 3pm, Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 3.30CHRISTIAN HENRY TESTIMONIAL: Newcastle 3pm
MONDAY APRIL 18:ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Lakeside 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 20:ELITE LEAGUE: Poole v Coventry 7.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Birmingham v Cradley 7.30
THURSDAY APRIL 21:ELITE LEAGUE: King’s Lynn v Leicester 7.30, Swindon v Belle Vue 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Redcar v Peterborough 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Sheffield v Ipswich 7.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Isle of Wight v Kent 7pm
