PETERBOROUGH tasted defeat for the first time in 2017 tonight.
The 'T Balfe Construction' Panthers were beaten 60-32 at Ipswich in the first of two East Anglian derby clashes between the sides over the Easter period.
The SGB Championship setback brought the club's four-meeting winning spree to a sudden halt and came complete with two injury worries.
Paul Starke was withdrawn on medical advice with a shoulder issue after taking an awkward fall in heat four when attempting to avoid partner Tom Bacon, who had also hit the deck. And skipper Ulrich Ostergaard took no further part after hurting a knee in a nasty heat 10 incident in which he lost control in the opening bend and was clattered by team-mate Bradley Wilson-Dean.
But another terrific performance from reserve ace Wilson-Dean did at least provide some cheer for Peterborough, who were already without Kenneth Hansen due to illness.
New Zealand champion Wilson-Dean was the club's only race-winner as he took a hat-trick of heats on his way to a 14+1 haul from a full seven-ride shift.
“We were on a roll, but tonight we came crashing back down to earth,” said team boss Carl Johnson.
“We knew it would probably happen at some point, but we certainly didn’t expect to be on the receiving end of a scoreline like this.
“It shows how quickly things can change in this sport. A couple of riders who have been flying so far this season have been caught up in nasty crashes.
“It looks like a muscle injury rather than a break for Paul. Fingers crossed he won’t be out for too long, but I don’t expect to see him on Monday.
“Ulrich twisted a knee that has caused him problems in the past. We’ll monitor him tomorrow before making decision on whether or not he is fit for the home meeting.
“We’ll get our heads together and look at our options for guests if that’s necessary.”
Panthers fell behind in the opening contest last night, but Wilson-Dean soon impressed with a heat two success before receiving an unexpected call into the next race after Starke was excluded for ploughing into the tapes.
The Kiwi responded with another success which, combined with a third place for Ostergaard, provided the visitors’ only advantage of the entire night.
It had looked like being a 5-1 for much of the race until Cameron Heeps squeezed past the skipper on the final lap.
A 4-2 was enough to restore parity, but a nightmare run of five Ipswich 5-1s in the next seven races turned a close contest into a drubbing.
Panthers lost both Starke and Ostergaard during the time, but they did at least manage to halt the hosts’ charge.
Jack Holder banked four points when taking second spot in a heat 11 tactical ride and Wilson-Dean completed his treble when signing off for the night with victory in the next race.
But Panthers were powerless to prevent Ipswich finishing strongly. In fact they could only send one rider, Bacon, to the tapes for the penultimate race.
The reserve was also pressed into heat 15 service as, like Wilson-Dean, he took the maximum seven permitted rides.
Peterborough have a quick chance to claim revenge when entertaining Ipswich at the East of England Showground on Monday, 3pm.
SCORES
IPSWICH: Cameron Heeps 12+2, Rory Schlein 12+1, Danny King 12, Danyon Hume 11, Nico Covatti 6+2, James Sarjeant 4+2, Connor Mountain 3+1.
PETERBOROUGH ‘T BALFE CONSTRUCTION’ PANTHERS: Bradley Wilson-Dean 14+1, Jack Holder 10, Ulrich Ostergaard 4+1 (withdrawn), Tom Bacon 3, Paul Starke 1 (withdrawn), Simon Lambert 0, Rider replacement for Kenneth Hansen.