Peterborough Panthers 48, Oxford Silver Machine 42: Oxford Silver Machine put up a great fight - but lost out to Peterborough Panthers in their opening Elite League clash at the East of England showground last night.

Despite the efforts of Greg Hancock and Billy Hamill, Oxford's lack of strength in the reserve spot cost them dear.

Oxford boss Nigel Wagstaff said: "Peterborough put up a great performance, they were too strong throughout.

"We came here thinking we could do it, and maybe we should have used a tactical ride after heat ten when we were eight points down, but decided against it."

Oxford made a fair start, winning three of the first four heats - one of them coming from Lukas Dryml in the battle of the brothers with a superb effort in his opening ride, relegating brother Ales to last place, from the favoured gate one.

Then Hancock led from bend two from the outside gate, but Ales Dryml tracked him down, going by on the third lap, before the Oxford skipper came good on the run to the line.

Oxford celebrations were cut short, however, as Jonas Kylmakorpi and Peter Karlsson demolished the previously rampant Hamill to put the Panthers 19-17 ahead.

Oxford were again lacking in the reserve spots as the first six rides yielded only one point.

But after heat nine only four points seperated the sides. However, Karlsson and Kylmakorpi grabbed their second maximum of the night to take a decisive advantage.

Hancock and Travis McGowan made some progress as the Oxford skipper reined in Sam Ermolenko to grab a 4-2.

Silver Machine were still hanging in there with Tom Madsen and Lukas Dryml sharing the points behind Ales Dryml.

Nothing less than maximum points was good enough for Oxford in the remaining heats, but it wasn't forthcoming as Karlsson left Hamill and Hancock trailing.

Niels Kristian Iversen was superb in passing Henning Bager from the back, but once Madsen lost third to Billy Janniro, it was all over.

Peterborough: Karlsson 13, Kylmakorpi 8, Ermolenko 7, Bager 6, A Dryml 6, Janniro 5, Lee 3. 48 pts.

Oxford: Hancock 11+1, Hamill 11, L Dryml 6+1, Iversen 6+1, McGowan 5, Madsen 3, Poudzhuks 0. 42 pts.