KOC Panthers v Swindon 17/9/10

[zonkers]

PETERBOROUGH will hand a surprise home debut to teenage star Dakota North on Friday night (September 17, 7.30pm).

The young Australian will come into the Readypower Panthers’ line-up for their crunch Knock Out Cup quarter final tie against Swindon.

North, who is currently on loan at Premier League Newcastle where he recently celebrated his first maximum, takes over from the absent Mathieu Tresarrieu.

The Frenchman will be travelling to the Czech Republic for the final round of the World Long Track Championship.

Panthers’ number eight Craig Cook would have been the obvious replacement but he’s riding for his PL club Workington in a cup-tie at Edinburgh.

Team boss Trevor Swales said: “Under the rules we have to bring in someone who has a Premier League average of six or less – and Dak is our best bet on that sort of figure.

“We signed him during the winter for the future so this is an ideal opportunity to give him some experience. He rode for us in a league match at Eastbourne earlier this year and rode well, picking up a couple of points.”

North, 19 last month, added: “I’m really looking forward to it – I’ve been hoping to get a chance or two this season.

“It’s been going good at Newcastle recently and I’ve had a few practises at the Showground so I know what to expect.

“I signed for Peterborough because I want to be racing in the Elite League and this is the first step for me.”

Peterborough trail the Robins by eight points after the first leg and the winners will take on title favourites Poole in the semi final.

PETERBOROUGH: Kenneth Bjerre, Krzysztof Buczkowski, Rory Schlein, Niels-Kristian Iversen, Troy Batchelor, Datota North, Norbert Kosciuch

SWINDON: Leigh Adams, Mads Korneliussen, Grzegorz Zengota, Maciek Janowski, Simon Stead, Justin Sedgmen, Cory Gathercole


(Panthers site)

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IN-FORM Troy Batchelor believes Peterborough can still end the season with silverware.

The Australian number two has urged the squad to round off the year in a blaze of glory – starting on Friday night (September 17, 7.30pm).

Swindon are the East of England Showground visitors in the second leg of the Knock Out Cup quarter final.

The Panthers have to overcome an eight point deficit to go through to a semi final tie against title favourites Poole.

It’s the first of two big home meetings in which the Readypower Panthers have to come from behind with Coventry Monday night’s visitors in the second leg of the play-off semi final.

Batchelor said: “We have a big meeting against Swindon and that won’t be easy, but we need to get the track perfect so we know how we want it against Coventry.

“We all need to get our heads together and pull out some big performances, in both meetings.

“Obviously I wasn’t at the first leg at Swindon, but the boys did a good job and we have nine points to pull back.

“If the track is good, and we have our heads screwed on, then we can do that comfortably.

“I know that they’ve been working pretty hard on the track this week so hopefully it can help us. This is speedway, though, and you never know.

“We lost two home meetings recently so you can’t ever predict things. We have a pretty fair track and the away teams know how to ride it, so we need to make sure that we’re focused from the start.

“It’s been a hard season for us but we have two trophies still to go for and two big performances at home and we’ve got a chance to win them, we can definitely still do it.”

Peterborough are boosted by the results of Swindon’s two previous visits to the East of England Showground this season.

They lost 36-57 back in July and then went down 42-51 in their second Elite League visit last month.

However, they look stronger with the signing of Polish Under 21 Champion Maciej Janowski who has been on fire since making his debut.

It will also be Robins’ skipper Leigh Adams’ last match at the Showground as he retires at the end of the season as the Elite League’s record points-scorer.

Peterborough hand a home debut to teenage Australian Dakota North but will have Poland racer Norbert Kosciuch back after missing last Monday’s trip to Coventry with an eye injury.

Swindon won the home leg 49-41 and if the sides are tied after 30 races then the clash will have to be replayed.

PETERBOROUGH: Kenneth Bjerre, Krzysztof Buczkowski, Rory Schlein, Niels-Kristian Iversen, Troy Batchlor, Dakota North, Norbert Kosciuch.

SWINDON: Leigh Adams, Mads Korneliussen, Grzegorz Zengota, Maciej Janowski, Simon Stead, Justin Sedgmen, Cory
Gathercole.



(Panthers site)

[zonkers]

Peterborough = 58 (99)

1. Kenneth Bjerre 3, 2', 3, 1, 2' = 11+2
2. Krzysztof Buczkowski 1, 3, 3, 1 = 8
3. Rory Schlein R, 3, 2', 2 = 7+1
4. Niels Kristian Iversen 2, 1, 3, 2 = 8
5. Troy Batchelor 2, 2, 3, 3, 3 = 13
6. Dakota North (G) 1, 1', 1' = 3+2
7. Norbert Kosciuch 3, 1', 2', 1, 1' = 8+3


Swindon = 37 (86)

1. Leigh Adams 2, 2, 4!, 2, 0 = 10
2. Mads Korneliussen 0, 0, 1, 0 = 1
3. Grzegorz Zengota 3, 3, 2, 3, 6!, 1 = 18
4. Maciej Janowski R/R
5. Simon Stead 3, R, 1, 0 = 4
6. Justin Sedgmen Fx, 1, 1, 0, 0 = 2
7. Cory Gathercole 2, 0, Fx, F, 0, R = 2



(From updates)


Really enjoyed tonight's meeting......some great racing ! Just hope we ride like that on Monday Zengota was fantastic.....as was Buzz - just soooo exciting to watch! All the team rode so well and Tory looked like he was on a mission !

[Deleted]

Tory.......who is Tory?

Is that a cross between Troy and Rory?