Peterborough Panthers held their nerve to take all three points with a narrow 49-41 victory over Coventry in an intriguing Elite League meeting.

The home side made the better start, scoring an opening heat 4-2, but Coventry reserves Adam Roynon and Henning Bager instantly reversed the two point deficit in favour of their side with a heat 2 maximum.

Danish hotshot Michael Jepsen Jensen combined with Linus Sundstrom in heat 3 to hit a 5-1 for Peterborough over Chris Harris and Kenni Larsen, before a good win for Polish reserve Norbert Kosciuch resulted in a level heat 4.

Peterborough then opened up a 6 point lead through Jepsen Jensen and Sundstrom, who once again struck a 5-1, but Coventry again stayed in touching distance with a 5-1 of their own courtesy of Chris Harris and Kenni Larsen in heat 7.

An excellent win for the strong Kosciuch in heat 8 accounted for another Panthers heat advantage, before Brit Adam Roynon provided a shock win over Jepsen Jensen and Sundstrom to keep the gap the same after heat 9.

A further 3-3 in heat 9 kept things extremely tight, before the impressive Kosciuch brilliantly passed Eddie Kennett on the final lap in heat 11 to provide a 4-2 which moved the hosts into a 6 point lead.

Wins for Harris, Bjerre and Roynon led to a trio of level heats building up to heat 15, and with no team able to convert their wins into heat advantages, Peterborough were guaranteed victory.

Yet that final race had plenty riding on it, with Coventry still seeking a losing bonus point, but when Michael Jepsen Jensen squeezed past Harris on the line to convert a Bjerre win into a home 4-2, Peterborough ensured they took all three points and Coventry went home empty handed.

For Peterborough, it was an extremely good home display in which every rider did their job well. Number one Kenneth Bjerre (14) was superb, putting his recent troubles behind him, whilst reserve Norbert Kosciuch (13+2) proved to be a real trump card. In the middle order, both Michael Jepsen Jensen (9+2) and Linus Sundstrom (9+1) provided paid double figures, and their strong displays proved vital, covering for the early loss of Olly Allen due to injury and powering the Panthers to victory.

On the other hand, Coventry will be disappointed to have gone away empty handed after a valiant effort away from home. Both reserves Adam Roynon (11) and Henning Bager (7+2) stepped up in good displays to cover the absence of Aaron Summers well, but the powerful top three failed to perform as well as the Bees needed them to. Scott Nicholls (8+1) did OK with his shoulder injury, but would be expected to do a little better, whilst Grand Prix star Chris Harris (9) was below par. The main problem was number on Eddie Kennett (4+1) who was extremely poor, and with fourth heat leader Kenni Larsen withdrawn due to injury early on, Coventry just ran out of steam.

SCORES

MJJ-Consistent Perfomer

Peterborough Panthers – 49

1. Kenneth Bjerre 3, 2, 3, 3, 3 = 14
2. Krzysztof Buczkowski R/R
3. Michael Jepsen Jensen 3, 2′, 1′, 2, 1 = 9+2
4. Linus Sundstrom 2′, 3, 2, 2 = 9+1
5. Olly Allen 0, Fx Withdrawn = 0
6. Richard Lawson 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1′ = 4+1
7. Norbert Kosciuch 1, 1, 3, 1′, 3, 3, 1′ = 13+2

Coventry Bees – 41

Nicholls-Struggling with Injury

1. Edward Kennett 0, 1, 2, 1′ = 4+1
2.Aaron Summers R/R (AR: 2), (HB: 0), (KL: Fx), (AR: 0) = (2)
3. Chris Harris 1, 3, 2, 3, 0 = 9
4. Kenni Larsen 0, 2′, Fx Withdrawn = 2+1
5. Scott Nicholls 1′, 3, 0, 2, 2 = 8+1
6. Adam Roynon 2, 3, Fx, 3, F, 3 = 11
7. Henning Bager 2′, 2, 0, 2, 1′, 0, 0 = 7+2

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