Peterborough Panthers are off to the Premiership Grand Final after a commanding semi-final display

Peterborough Panthers booked their place in the Premiership Grand Final with a commanding 52-38 second-leg victory over Wolves at the East of England Arena last night.
Panthers stars Bjarne Pedersen (red helmet) and Hans Anderson.Panthers stars Bjarne Pedersen (red helmet) and Hans Anderson.
Panthers stars Bjarne Pedersen (red helmet) and Hans Anderson.

After securing a 98-82 aggregate win, Panthers will meet Belle Vue Aces in the final. The first leg is scheduled for Manchester on Monday (October 11) with the return at the Showground on Thursday, October 14 (7.30pm).

After a tricky start last night Panthers rallied mid-meeting to inflict a heaviest defeat of the season on the visitors - booking their spot in a first top-flight Grand Final since 2006.

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The night started with a minute’s applause for former Panthers promoter Colin Pratt amongst a number of touching tributes following his sad passing last weekend.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Rob Lyon’s men as Wolverhampton flew out the traps with back-to-back advantages to lead by six early on after Bjarne Pedersen rolled into the tapes in a nervy second heat.

A tide-turning 5-1 courtesy of guest Lewis Kerr and number one Michael Palm Toft in Heat Six sparked a run of three consecutive maximums to immediately switch the momentum back into the home side’s favour - and they never looked back from there to record a 16-point aggregate victory.

Trump card reserve Pedersen contributed a match-winning 14+1 from six outings with the in-form Chris Harris carding 11+1. Guest Lewis Kerr (9+a) proved to be an inspired booking.

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Visiting Aussie Ryan Douglas demonstrated his liking for the Showground circuit as he picked up three race wins - exactly half of Peter Adams’ side’s heat victories all night.

“Tonight was a banana skin,” said boss Lyon. “We did a great job at Wolves to get a two-point lead, but we knew how good they could be.

“We’ve obviously had injuries problems during the week and it was touch and go whether Michael (Palm Toft) would make it but he came back tonight and did a great job.

“It was a terrific comeback from the lads after a slow start. It’s play-off speedway so you come to expect ups and downs - including an early tapes exclusion which came via Bjarne in Heat Two.

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“It was typical of a Peterborough performance, we’ve had plenty of those this year and they’ve come up trumps again tonight.”

SCORES

PETERBOROUGH 52: Bjarne Pedersen 14+1, Chris Harris 11+1, Lewis Kerr 9+1, Scott Nicholls 7+1, Hans Andersen 5+1, Michael Palm Toft 4+1, Jordan Palin 2+1.

WOLVERHAMPTON 38: Ryan Douglas 11+1, Sam Masters 9+1, Rory Schlein 6, Luke Becker 5, Leon Flint 3, Broc Nicol 2+1, Nick Morris 2.

Peterborough win 98-82 on aggregate