PANTHERS rained supreme in the white hot – and waterlogged - cauldron of a first-ever Elite League relegation race-off last night.

Speedway racers don't have a lot in common with mundane sportsmen such as cricketers and crown green bowlers, but they do all share a mutual loathing for the wet stuff.

Normally the first sign of a shower is enough to send riders retreating back to the pits, but last night it brought Panthers to life.

The city side were nothing short of shocking as they catastrophically fluffed their lines in the opening exchanges of one of the biggest meetings in their history.

Panthers conceded two 5-1s and four 4-2s in the opening six heats to be cast adrift and left contemplating the possibility of a do-or-die survival duel against the Premier League top dogs.

But then the heavens opened and the complexion of this crucial contest changed beyond all belief.

Suddenly the all-conquering Wolves looked more unsteady than a toddler in a pair of stillettos as torrential rain turned the slick Monmore Green surface into a skating rink.

But as the going got tough, the Panthers boys got going in great style.

Boosted by 14-point performances from guest ace Rory Schlein and GP star-in-the-making Kenneth Bjerre, buoyed by a marvellous paid 10-point cameo from unlikely hero Karol Zabik and benefitting from seven hard-earned Henning Bager points – the city side emerged drenched but delighted and in complete control of this two-legged scrap.

Zabik celebrated his sparkling display by covering team manager Trevor Swales and promoter Mick Bratley in slimy wet shale, but the cost of a dry cleaning bill is nothing compared to the huge relief of almost certainly securing top-flight safety with the second leg ahead at the Showground tomorrow night.

Zabik said: "This is my best day for Peterborough and my greatest meeting on a small track.

"I am so happy to help the club to an important result and I am pleased to do well for the fans.

"It is a great result to lose by only one point, but we must not think about the score on Thursday. We must simply go out to win every race and get every point possible."

The splendid efforts of those four riders made sure failings in other areas were not costly for Panthers.

Lukas Dryml delivered a typically dismal small-track display by failing to score, stand-in skipper Danny King endured a torrid personal performance that included two tumbles and a tapes exclusion and reserve star Claus Vissing came down three times in as many appearances on the tricky Monmore track.

But when the rain set in, business boomed and Panthers moved in for the kill. Swales made his tactical moves to launch a comeback that was both brilliant and unbelievable in equal measure.