Peterborough Panthers v Sheffield Tigers

PETERBOROUGH kept up their excellent run of late-season form with a 53-37 win over Sheffield to move off the bottom of the Sports Insure Premiership table.

The Panthers covered well for the absence of Niels-Kristian Iversen due to injury, and also saw Artem Laguta ruled out after three rides with an ankle injury after a tangle with team-mate Chris Harris.

Benjamin Basso (12) and Ben Cook (10+1) topped the Panthers’ scorechart as their reserves dominated, Cook’s total being added to by Rising Star Jordan Jenkins with 9+2.

Tobiasz Musielak piled up 16 for the Tigers but the absence of Tai Woffinden is a big concern for the Owlerton side ahead of the play-offs.

Peterborough boss Rob Lyon said: “It was another solid team performance, and I’m really happy with that.

“We covered for Niels’ rides pretty well, and it was a good display overall. Jordan had one of his best meetings for us, his riding was intelligent and I’m pleased for him.”

Sheffield manager Simon Stead said: “We were beaten by the better team and sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say we weren’t good enough.

“We were missing the brilliance of Tai Woffinden; the display he put on last time he was here could’ve made all the difference. But he wasn’t here and we weren’t able to cover him, and we suffered for that.”

PETERBOROUGH 53: Benjamin Basso 12, Ben Cook 10+1, Chris Harris 9+2, Jordan Jenkins 9+2, Vadim Tarasenko 7+1, Artem Laguta 6, Niels-Kristian Iversen r/r.
SHEFFIELD 37: Tobiasz Musielak 16, Josh Pickering 9+1, Kyle Howarth 6+1, Chris Holder 5+3, Claus Vissing 1, Jason Edwards 0, Tai Woffinden r/r.
Peterborough win the aggregate point

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Photo credit: JEFF DAVIES