Peterborough stunned Elite League newcomers Leicester with a terrific 48-42 challenge match win at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium on Saturday.

The TC Harrison Panthers put in a rock-solid display in the East Midlands with reserve duo Joe Jacobs and Oliver Greenwood putting in especially impressive displays.

Although the Lions had the heavier individual scorers in Danish duo Patrick Hougaard and Mads Korneliussen, no fewer than four Panthers riders carded eight points, and they were all regular members of the team.

Guest Nick Morris, standing in for the unavailable Ales Dryml, failed to finish in his first two rides and the meeting looked to be going according to league status when Leicester raced into a 22-14 lead after six heats.

But Panthers clawed their way level across the next four races, inspired by a 5-1 from Jacobs and Greenwood in Heat 9 and 4-2s in Heats 7 and 10 with both Lasse Bjerre and Ulrich Ostergaard taking wins.

Ryan Fisher then took Heat 11 with Ostergaard third to put Panthers ahead, and their two-point lead was maintained with the next two races shared, Morris taking the flag in a feisty Heat 13.

Panthers then applied a sucker punch with a 5-1 in the penultimate race with Leicester’s Simon Stead falling on the first lap, Ostergaard and Jacobs taking full advantage to make the match safe.

The sides will do battle again at the East of England Showground on April 7, but prior to that Panthers return to League Cup action at home to Plymouth on Tuesday.

LEICESTER 42: Patrick Hougaard 13, Mads Korneliussen 11+2, Peter Ljung 9+1, Simon Stead 5+1, Tom Perry 4, Max Clegg 0, Jason Doyle r/r.

PETERBOROUGH 48: Joe Jacobs 8+2, Ulrich Ostergaard 8, Lasse Bjerre 8, Oliver Greenwood 8, Nick Morris 6+2, Ryan Fisher 6+1, Aaron Summers 4+2.