IPSWICH 39 PANTHERS 54: PETERBOROUGH issued a stunning statement of intent by powering to East Anglian derby glory at Ipswich in the first instalment of a Good Friday double-battle.
The ‘TC Harrison’ Panthers could hardly have clinched a first away win of the season in more impressive style than by taking all four available league points in front of a bumper Bank Holiday crowd at Foxhall.
Team boss Trevor Swales was left to salute a ‘terrific all-round display’ in the top-of-the-table Premier League Cup, Southern Group clash as his men ended Ipswich's unbeaten start to the campaign.
It was headlined by skipper Ulrich Ostergaard, who won the final two races on his way to a 13-point haul. Countryman Lasse Bjerre, who followed him home in the finale, was paid for 13 points while six members of the Panthers team in all took heat wins.
Reserve Oliver Greenwood was the only man not to come home in front, but the teenager did notch four important points for the cause, including a dramatic third place in the penultimate contest when he picked the pocket of home rider Chris Mills.
"We were superb to a man," said Swales. "Everyone from one to seven contributed to a memorable performance and result.
"Ipswich have started the season in brilliant form so to pick up all four points at their place is no mean feat."
The two sides couldn’t be split in the early exchanges as the opening four races ended in 3-3s.
Panthers were fortunate not to fall behind in the last of those as Ipswich were on a 5-1 when skipper Ritchie Hawkins took his second tumble of the afternoon and left referee Dale Entwistle with no alternative other than to award the race.
And Panthers made the most of their good fortune to build a sizable advantage thanks to two 5-1s and two 4-2s in the space of six races.
The deadlock was eventually broken in heat five as Ryan Fisher and Lewis Blackbird were too hot for Morten Risager to handle, but the lead was immediately halved as Bjerre could only split Ipswich guest Rene Bach and Gino Manzares in the next race.
Ostergaard led the way in a Panthers 4-2 in heat seven and they looked set to further extend their advantage in the next as Blackbird and Greenwood roared away from the traps.
Their hopes of a 5-1 were dashed when Greenwood encountered bike problems going through the second bend, but Blackbird powered to victory as his partner eventually managed to complete some way behind.
But Panthers didn’t have long to wait for another maximum as Joe Jacobs and Bjerre left Risager trailing in their wake in heat nine to open up an eight-point cushion.
That grew to 10 when Ales Dryml took the flag in a 4-2 in heat 10 but Ipswich slashed their arrears when Rohan Tungate made the most of his tactical ride to win heat 11 immediately after the interval.
But Panthers produced a power-packed response to confirm their superiority thanks to a hat-trick of 4-2s before bringing the curtain down with a 5-1.
Dryml set the ball rolling in heat 12 before Bjerre took the honours in a re-run 13th instalment to secure victory with two races to spare.
Ostergaard then powered clear in heat 14 as partner Greenwood nicked third before Ostergaard and Bjerre provided a fabulous finish to a fantastic display.
Panthers will hope to do the double when the teams renew rivalries at the East of England Showground tonight (7.30pm).