Weakened Panthers put up a battling display

SPEEDWAY: Panthers were defeated but not disgraced in the first of two successive away meetings last night.

A depleted city team - without injured Olly Allen and the ill Michael Jepsen Jensen - went down 50-39 at Poole.

Co-boss Jan Staechmann said: “I don’t think the final scoreline actually reflected how well we rode under the circumstances.”

But things will hardly get any easier tonight when Panthers travel to a highly-touted Swindon team with Jepsen Jensen and Allen both already ruled out. The club were still chasing a guest rider this morning and will again use the rider replacement facility.

Panthers report: page 43