SPEEDWAY FIXTURES: Panthers start with an Easter extravaganza

The city team’s first competitive fixture of the new season will see them entertain East Anglian rivals Ipswich in an Easter Monday derby clash at the East of England Showground.

It is likely to be the first in a series of tasty League Cup clashes with Panthers also facing Sheffield, their play-off quarter-final victims last season, and Scunthorpe in the Midland Group. Only the top team advance to the semi-finals.

Panthers begin their Premier League campaign with a visit to Rye House on Saturday, April 16 while Somerset provide the first home league opposition eight days later on Sunday, April 24.

Joint team boss Carl Johnson said: “I don’t think we could possibly have a bigger first meeting than an Easter Monday derby.

“It is essential we hit the ground running as failing to make it out of our group in the League Cup was a big disappointment last season.

“It looks like a very tough group with Sheffield and Scunthorpe having put strong sides together, but we need to show everyone what we’re about from the word ‘go’ and ensure we already have momentum by the time the league fixtures start in April.”

Panthers will face either Workington or Somerset in the quarter-finals of the KO Cup during the summer.

PANTHERS 2016 FIXTURES

Key: LC = Premier League Cup, PL = Premier League, KOC = KO Cup.

DATE OPPONENTS COMP. H/A

MARCH

Mon 28 Ipswich PL LC HOME

Thu 31 Sheffield PL LC Away

APRIL

Fri 01 Scunthorpe PL LC HOME

Fri 08 Sheffield PL LC HOME

Sun 10 Scunthorpe PL LC Away

Thu 14 Ipswich PL LC Away

Sat 16 Rye House PL Away

Thu 21 Redcar PL Away

Sun 24 Somerset PL HOME

MAY

Sun 01 Glasgow PL Away

Fri 06 Plymouth PL Away

Sun 08 Sheffield PL HOME

Sun 15 Rye House PL HOME

Sun 22 Ipswich PL HOME

Mon 30 Plymouth PL HOME

Mon 30 Scunthorpe PL Away

JUNE

Fri 10 Glasgow PL HOME

Fri 17 Scunthorpe PL HOME

Sat 18 Workington PL KOC QF Away

JULY

Fri 01 Somerset PL KOC QF Away

Sun 03 Workington or Somerset PL KOC QF HOME

Fri 15 Berwick PL HOME

Thu 21 Ipswich PL Away

Fri 22 Reserved . HOME

Sat 23 Reserved . HOME

Sun 24 Reserved . HOME

Thu 28 Sheffield PL Away

Sun 31 Workington PL Away

AUGUST

Fri 05 Somerset PL Away

Sun 07 Edinburgh PL HOME

Fri 12 Edinburgh PL Away

Sat 13 Berwick PL Away

Sun 21 Newcastle PL Away

Fri 26 Newcastle PL HOME

Mon 29 Redcar PL HOME

SEPTEMBER

Fri 02 Workington PL HOME

Fri 09 Reserved . HOME

Fri 23 Reserved . HOME

OCTOBER

Fri 07 Reserved . HOME