Simon stars in Sunday success

Speedway - Panthers travel to Scotland with a 10-point advantage

A major cup clash of this magnitude really ought to be the main course on any sporting menu - but 15 heats of engrossing speedway were almost overshadowed by events before and after at the East of England Arena.

A significant Sunday began with a surprise announcement that long-serving stalwart Trevor Swales - currently promoter and formerly title-winning team manager - is to step down at the end of the campaign.

And the curtain came down not on a well-earned victory parade for a side possibly appearing on home shale for the final time this year, but instead with owner Ged Rathbone dropping a major bombshell on the tannoy as the club’s current battle against the authorities took a shock twist.

On the track, Panthers led from start to finish with prolific reserve Simon Lambert and former GP star Chris Harris playing starring roles.

Lambert won the opening two heats – the first of them a 5-1 achieved with number one Jack Holder; the second of them a shared race – before a 4-2 inspired by skipper Ulrich Ostergaard in the third instalment stretched the hosts’ lead to six points.

It stayed that way during a series of four shared races although Panthers were seriously unlucky not to claim another 5-1 in heat six when Holder was hit by mechanical gremlins when leading on the final lap.

But two more full houses did soon arrive in successive races – and both of them featured Paul Starke. He followed in Lambert in the eighth contest and Ostergaard in the ninth heat.

Lambert also combined with fellow high-scorer Harris to great effect in the 11th instalment before Glasgow dug in for a hat-trick of 4-2s to trim the gap to just eight points.

But a brilliant Harris blast earned glory in the finale and partner Starke forced his way into third place to ensure Panthers signed off with a 4-2 and head north of the border in possession of a double-figure cushion.