A HEAVY away defeat is hardly a new sensation for Panthers.

Trevor Swales' men have been there, done that and got a wardrobe full of unwanted t-shirts after some horror shows on the road this season - but none have hurt quite as much as this mightily agitating night in the Midlands.

And for once it wasn't the size of the scoreline or a pitiful performance from Panthers riders that upset them even though this was a contest earmarked for a victory.

No, it was the turn of opponents Wolverhampton and SCB referee Jim Lawrence to incur the wrath of the city club.

According to co-promoter Mick Bratley, Panthers were 'mugged' at Monmore and it is hard to disagree with his assessment after a night of agricultural riding and ineffective officiating.

Rather than overtake visiting riders, certain Wolverhampton men seemed more intent on either riding into or straight through their opponents and their approach went unpunished.

"I'm all for hard but fair riding, but some of the things we saw tonight crossed the line," said Bratley.

Home captain Freddie Lindgren picked up from where he left off when the teams met at this venue earlier in the season by dishing out some rough stuff to Panthers skipper Hans Andersen, while Wolves guest Chris Harris and reserve Christian Hefenbrock were not shy about getting stuck in either.

There were no fewer than four controversial flashpoints that left the Panthers brigade in danger of boiling over.

The first entry on the Wolverhampton crime sheet came as early as the opening bend of the opening race when Lindgren forced Andersen so far wide he was almost on the greyhound track.

The heat and identity of the home rider were different, but in the fifth race the circumstances were similar and the victim was the same.

This time Andersen found his hopes of a six-point tactical ride haul wrecked when Harris ruined a great duel for victory by hanging the Panthers man out to dry - and there was plenty more of the same still ahead.

Not content with causing the crash in a European Championship qualifier on Sunday that left regular Panthers reserve Morten Risager heavily concussed and out of this meeting, Hefenbrock appeared intent on wiping Henning Bager out in heat 11.

The Panthers man was holding third place until the German left him absolutely no room leaving the second bend of the third lap. Bager did well just to remain upright but was relegated well to the rear.