Leicester Lions v Peterborough Panthers

Report

LEICESTER marked their first home meeting back in the Premiership with a 47-42 win over a battling Peterborough side.

Justin Sedgmen won his first three rides for the Lions to finish with 10+1, and Max Fricke added 9+2 as the Lions led for much of the meeting which was raced in tricky conditions following heavy afternoon rain.

The Panthers kept in touch despite operating rider replacement at No.1, with Richie Worrall starring on his old home track with 14+1, including wins in his last three rides, and reserve Ben Cook chipped in with 10+2.

Lions manager Stewart Dickson said: “It’s a good two points to get started with. Conditions were difficult for both sides and there were a lot of teething problems on a heavy track.

“The most important thing was to get a victory, and we managed to do that. It wasn’t pretty, but at the same time we got the win.

“Justin was the match-winner for us, I’ll not dress it up any other way.”

Panthers boss Rob Lyon said: “They always say when your luck is down, your luck is down, and we had none tonight. We lost probably four points in scoring positions – Leicester did have problems as well, but maybe we had a little bit more than them.

“Four points from R/R at No.1, you can’t expect to win matches in that sort of scenario, but it is what it is and I thought the boys battled hard and five points is not insurmountable to pull back for the bonus point at the other end.

“This is Richie’s specialist track, Leicester is a place he excels at, and I expected him to be our top scorer tonight if I’m honest, and he did a great job.”

LEICESTER 47: Justin Sedgmen 10+1, Max Fricke 9+2, Chris Harris 9+1, Nick Morris 7+1, Richard Lawson 6, Jake Allen 4+1, Dan Thompson 2.
PETERBOROUGH 42: Richie Worrall 14+1, Ben Cook 10+2, Niels-Kristian Iversen 7, Hans Andersen 5+1, Benjamin Basso 5+1, Jordan Jenkins 1+1, Nicki Pedersen r/r.

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Photo credit: JEFF DAVIES