THIS was a very satisfying result for two reasons.

It was the first time Panthers had recorded a victory over the Eagles in three years of trying.

And it also avenged a defeat earlier in the season when the Sussex sliders had brought the city side's impressive 10-match winning streak to an end.

Eastbourne had a reputation for being the big entertainers of the early 1970s era and they were expected to provide stiff opposition at the Showground, but that prediction was quickly blown out of the water.

Eastbourne were actually on a 5-1 in the opening race but Bobby McNeil seized an engine and then withdrew from the remainder of the meeting to leave the visitors up against it.

And Panthers didn't need a second invitation to take advantage. By the end of heat seven they had established a 13-point cushion and Eastbourne introduced Gordon Kennett as a tactical substitute in the eighth contest.

But the move backfired spectacularly as he ground to a halt with mechanical problems and from then on it was Panthers heat advantages all the way.

The lowest-scoring Panthers rider, Alan Witt, contributed four points whereas three Eagles men failed to trouble the scorers – current team manager Trevor Geer among them!

On the other hand, the top Peterborough scorer Richard Greer – who is Panthers' meeting co-ordinator these days – weighed in with 10.

I wonder if he'll remind Geer of that fact tonight...


Scores

Panthers: Richard Greer 10, Clive Noy 9, Brian Clark 8, John Davis 8, Ted Howgego 7, Roy Carter 6, Alan Witt 4.

Eastbourne: Roger Johns 10, Malcolm Ballard 8, Gordon Kennett 5, Steve Bruce 2, Trevor Geer 0, Bobby McNeil 0, Reg Trott 0.