Nelson Tigers out-muscle Panthers

Despite a four-year unbeaten teams' champs run coming to a sudden halt at Arena Manawatu on Saturday night, don't expect to see any of the Palmerston North Panthers rushing into retirement.

The Panthers had no answer to the brilliant Nelson Tigers' brutal assault, with the inspirational Brendan Higgins pretty much a one-man bashing machine, as his team smashed the Panthers out of the semifinal.

The loss, though, has hardened the team's resolve to come back next year and win back the title from the Tigers at the Robertson Holden Speedway.

Before next year, though, the same Panthers' lineup – Scott Miers, Peter Rees, Wayne Hemi, Peter Bengston and Shane Penn – will head to Waikaraka Park, Auckland, on March 12, chasing a fifth consecutive title at the teams' nationals.

Panthers' manager and strategist, Gary Parkes, who will definitely be back next year, said there were no excuses for the loss to a hyped-up Tigers team.

"No-one was to blame. They drove well and we were well beaten by them," he said. "It was also great to see it was decided on the track and not by outside influences.

"I'm proud of my team, the way they all stood and applauded the Nelson drivers and then were smiling in the pits signing autographs and talking to the kids."

Parkes said although he hadn't been able to put a finger on it, he had felt things weren't quite right all week.

"It wasn't that Scott and Peter (Bengston) had just got over injuries or there had been mechanical problems – I just had an inkling we weren't there. No-one was to blame."

Parkes said it was clear from the crowd reaction before each of the Panthers' races that most wanted to see them beaten.

"It happened to us when we won four in a row in the early 1990s that the crowd turned, as they did last night. But I suppose most people wanted to see a different winner."

Higgins, named the driver of the teams champs, said the win was the culmination of a fantastic career for him, but that he likely wouldn't be back next year to defend the title.

He and Daryl Peterson, the only two who were in the victorious 2000 team, were planning on retiring.

"It was fantastic to finally get another win, but both Daryl and myself have young families and it's time to put something back into them," Higgins said.

"If the car doesn't sell then I suppose I'll have to come back, but it's not my intention."

The Tigers won each of their four teams races by hammering their opponents.

On the first night only two opponents finished races, while on Saturday they smashed all four Panthers out of the race. In the final, against the British Lions, only one of the British drivers finished the race.

And if last year's third place was misleading after they were knocked out of contention by the Panthers on the first night, this year the Lions were in with a real show after making the semifinal.

Led by brilliant attacking driving from Frankie Wainman and the fast Craig Finnikin racing for the win, the Lions comfortably over-powered the Waikato Wanderers in the second semifinal.

However, they were no match for the Tigers in the final.

- © Fairfax NZ News