Pedersen stars as Eagles are narrowly defeated

The Eagles went down to a 49-44 defeat on a track where they often suffer heavy defeats.

Club captain Nicki Pedersen scored an 18-point maximum.

The result might have been closer after the Eagles were penalised due to an administrative mix up.

Surprise packet Cameron Woodward was denied a place in heat 15 because the referee, Barbara Horley, ruled he had taken the maximum seven rides.

In fact, he had not.

The problem seemed to stem from heats 8 and 9.

Woodward came in to replace Lewis Bridger in the eighth race, and in the ninth Bridger took the place of Woodward.

News of the switch didn't reach the referee and she failed to notice it was Bridger on track in heat nine, despite the large No 7 emblazoned on his race jacket.

The official word that emanated post match from the referee's box was seemingly that they had not been informed by the Pits Marshall of the second reserve switch in heat nine and so therefore they should not be expected to know.

The Eastbourne management clearly weren't happy with both Bob Brimson and Trevor Geer making representations to the referee, their case even being backed by Peterborough officials as the arguments raged as to whether Woodward should be included in that final race.

The row should not detract from what had been a classic encounter and a superb travelling performance from the Eagles on a track that tradition dictates they find difficult to master.

Scorers :

Panthers : Niels Kristian-Iversen 13(5), Kenneth Bjerre 9+3(5), Hans Andersen 9+1(4), Piotr Swiderski 7+1(5), Richard Hall 6(4), Lukas Dryml 5+1(4), Danny King 0(3) '“ 49

Eagles : Nicki Pedersen 18(5), Cameron Woodward 12+1(7) (Official score indicated '“ 10+1(6) actual score), Dean Barker 5+1(5), Stefan Andersson 5(4), David Norris 4+1(5), Lewis Bridger 0(4) (Official score indicated '“ 2(5) actual score), Rider Replacement for Davey Watt '“ 44