Premier League Riders’ Championship
Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield

Sunday 27 th September

Sheffield’s Ricky Ashworth was a deserving winner of Sunday’s prestigious Premier League Riders’ Championship, he leading from start to finish in the ‘winner takes all’ final ahead of King’s Lynn’s Darcy Ward with Ty Proctor (Redcar) in third place and David Howe (Scunthorpe) fourth.

The meeting was a disappointment for Somerset’s Steve Johnston who ended the meeting in 11 th place on 6 points, two last places in his second and third rides when coming off what were at that time the two worst gate positions, ending any hopes that ‘Johno’ had of making at least the semi-final stage of the competition.

After an encouraging second place behind Newcastle’s Kenni Larsen in his opening ride, Johnston finished off the meeting with two further second places in his final two rides but the it was too little too late for him as it took a score of 10 points to ensure qualification for the semi-final round.

That semi-final saw Proctor, Andre Compton (Workington), William Lawson (Glasgow) and Howe, ironically a last minute replacement for Somerset’s Emil Kramer who had to withdraw ahead of the meeting due to injury, come to the tapes to determine which two would join Ashworth and Ward in the final, they being seeded directly through to the final itself by virtue of being the top two scorers after the conclusion of the preceding 20 heats.

Proctor and Howe duly booked their passages through to the final, but neither they, nor the pre-meeting favourite Ward had any answer to Ashworth who stamped his authority on the Final by leading from the tapes, and although Ward had fought his way through into second place by the half-way stage, it left him too much to do in order to get on terms with Ashworth who claimed top spot on the winners’ podium much to the obvious delight of the rider himself.

Final Positions; 1) Ricky Ashworth (Sheffield); 2) Darcy Ward (King’s Lynn); 3) Ty Proctor (Redcar); 4) David Howe (Scunthorpe)

Qualifying Scores; Ricky Ashworth (Sheffield - 13 pts); Darcy Ward (King’s Lynn - 11); Ty Proctor (Redcar - 11); Andre Compton (Workington - 10); David Howe (Scunthorpe - 10); William Lawson (Glasgow - 10); Kenni Larsen (Newcastle – 9); Jordan Frampton (Newport – 9); Ryan Fisher(Edinburgh -8); Jason Lyons (Birmingham – 7); Steve Johnston (Somerset – 6); Tomas Topinka (King’s Lynn – 5); Jason Bunyan (Stoke -5); Magnus Karlsson (Scunthorpe – 3); Chris Neath (Rye House – 2); Michal Makovsky (Berwick – 1)

Stoke Potters
versus
Somerset Rebels
YOUNG SHIELD
1st Leg

Despite going into this Young Shield tie against Stoke without the services of Emil Kramer (injured) and Nick Simmons, who was competing in the National League Riders’ Championship, the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels came away from Loomer Road with just a nine point deficit to make up in Friday’s (2 nd Oct) 2 nd leg at the Oak Tree Arena.

The fact that Somerset kept in contention with the Potters was due in no small part by the excellent performances of skipper Steve Johnston and Cory Gathercole who scored 32 of the Rebels 43 points between them, with Justin Sedgmen providing good support, weighing in as he did with 9 points from his full quota of 7 rides.

Johnston was only headed home once by an opposition rider, that coming in heat 13 when Stoke’s Bunyan snatched second place away from ‘Johno’, but other than that, Johnston was in supreme form, his equalling of the Stoke track record in the opening heat being a sign of things to come.

After two shared heats to open the meeting, Stoke drew first blood with a maximum heat advantage in heat 3, but the Rebels hit back to cut the four point deficit in half when Gathercole took the first of his race wins, Rebels guest Mark Baseby picking up the odd point for third place.

With Johnston winning heat 5, it meant that Somerset had provided four out of the first five race winners of the night, and it looked as if that tally would be become five out of six when Gathercole hit the front from the tapes in heat 6, only for him to lock up and fall on the apex of the first turn, this bringing down Stoke’s Jason Bunyan in the process.

With Gathercole duly excluded from the re-run, it was left to Justin Sedgmen to crucially hold on to a fine 2 nd place to restrict the home side’s advantage, though the 4-2 heat win to the Potters restored their 4 point lead.

Johnston continued his winning ways by taking the chequered flag in heat 7, this after having to come from third place on the opening lap to pass the Stoke duo of Robert Ksiezak and Craig Branney, but just two heats later Somerset suddenly found themselves 12 points down as Stoke hit in consecutive 5-1’s to take the score to 33-21 in their favour with six heats remaining.

Gathercole steadied the Somerset ship in heat 10 with a second place finish whilst on a double point tactical ride, which kept Stoke twelve points to the good, allowing Somerset a second chance of a tactical ride, which saw the hitherto unbeaten Johnston come to the tapes in the ‘black and white’ helmet colour.

The move almost worked to perfection as Johnston took the lead from the tapes with team-mate Sedgmen behind him in second place. Eventually Stoke’s Jesper Kristiansen found a way past Sedgmen, but the resultant 7-2 heat win brought the Rebels back to within 7 points of their hosts.

Stoke hit back with their fourth maximum heat win of the match in heat 12 to stretch their lead back out to 11 points, but a Gathercole/Johnston 4-2 in heat 13 brought the Somerset arrears back to single figures once again.

A further maximum race win to Stoke in the penultimate heat took them into a 13 point lead, which would have become a more than handy 17 point first leg advantage should they repeat the feat in the fifteenth and final heat.

Any hopes that the Potters had though were quickly extinguished as Gathercole and Johnston showed their undoubted class by speeding from the tapes to establish an unassailable lead over Stokes Complin and Bunyan for a 5-1 heat win to leave the tie nicely poised ahead of the 2 nd leg, which the Rebels will need to win by 10 points or more in order to book their place in the Young Shield Semi-Final draw.

Scorers;

Stoke Potters; 1) Jason Bunyan 9+1 (5r); 2) Tom P Madsen 7 (4r); 3) Klaus Jakobsen 10+1 (4r); 4) Lee Complin 10+2 (5r); 5) Robert Ksiezak 1+1 (3r); 6) Craig Branney 3+1 (3r); 7) Jesper Kristiansen 12 +3 (6r)

Somerset Rebels; 1) Steve Johnston 18+1 (6r); 2) Simon Walker 1 (4r); 3) Jari Makinen 0 (3r); 4) Emil Kramer – rider replacement; 5) Cory Gathercole 14 (6r); 6) Justin Sedgmen 9 (7r); 7) Mark Baseby 1 (4r)

Report courtesy Ian Belcher

(Original Results courtesy Speedway Updates)

Edinburgh Monarchs = 42

1. R Fisher – 2, 3, flx = 5

2. M Dilger – flx, 1, 1 = 2

3. K Wölbert – 3, 1, 2, 3 = 9

4. M Wethers - 2*, 3, 1* = 6+2

5. M Rajkowski – 2, 2, 1 = 5

6. A Summers - 2*,1*,2, 3, 2* = 10+3

7. B Bekker – 3, 1*, 1* = 5+2

Somerset Rebels = 33

1. S Johnston – 3, 2, 2 = 7

2. S Walker – Rider Replacement

3. J Mäkinen – 1, 0, 0, 0 = 1

4. E Kramer – 1, 3, 3 = 7

5. C Gathercole – 3, flx, 6^, 3 = 12

6. J Sedgmen – ret, ret, ret, ret = 0

7. N Simmons – 1, 0, 2, fl, 2*, 1 - 6+1

SCB Referee: David Dowling

Heat Details

Heat 01: (re-run x 2) Johnston, Fisher, Mäkinen, Dilger (fell-exl) (2-4) (2-4) 57.4

Heat 02: Bekker, Summers, Simmons, Sedgmen (ret) (5-1) (7-5) 59.2

Heat 03: Wölbert, Wethers, Kramer, Mäkinen (5-1) (12-6) 58.6

Heat 04: Gathercole, Rajkowski, Bekker, Simmons (3-3) (15-9) 58.8

Heat 05: Wethers, Johnston, Wölbert, Sedgmen (ret) (4-2) (19-11) 58.5

Heat 06: (re-run) Fisher, Simmons, Dilger, Gathercole (fell-exl) (4-2) (23-13) Awrd

Heat 07: Kramer, Rajkowski, Summers, Mäkinen (3-3) (26-16) 58.1

Heat 08: Gathercole^, Summers, Bekker, Simmons (fell) (3-6) (29-22) 57.8

Heat 09: Gathercole, Wölbert, Wethers, Sedgmen (ret) (3-3) (32-25) 58.1

Heat 10: Kramer, Simmons, Dilger, Fisher (fell-exl) (1-5) (33-30) 58.6

Heat 11: Summers, Johnston, Rajkowski, Sedgmen (ret) (4-2) (37-32) 59.4    

Heat 12: Wölbert, Summers, Simmons, Mäkinen (5-1) (42-33) 58.3

Meeting abandoned after heat 12 due to rain – result stands

After an afternoon of fairly constant rain and drizzle that only let up some half an hour before the scheduled 6.30pm start time, it was a testament to the application and willingness of all 13 riders that this match got started at all, let alone the fact that it got as far as heat 12 before then weather finally brought proceedings to a premature halt.

In truth the track rode surprisingly well, given the adverse weather conditions and the fact that Edinburgh had raced on it only some 24 hours earlier. Although the opening few heats were subject to a riders slithering and sliding on the slippery top surface, it only took a couple of heats before a more consistent riding line came to the fore.

It was in two of the opening three heats that track conditions played a part in what ultimately may well have decided the final outcome of this match.

After Somerset had taken a 4-2 lead in the opening race, this after it being necessary to have two re-runs, the first of which saw Dilger excluded as a result of a fall. Things looked good for the Rebels in heat 2 when the very much in-form Justin Sedgmen took the lead from the tapes. As he exited the 2^nd turn, however, Sedgmen lost control of his bike on the still slippery surface, the sudden, unexpected, movement further aggravating an arm injury that the young Australian carried into this match. The injury gave him so much discomfort that he was to be a virtual passenger in his remaining outings, he only really took to the track in his subsequent heats to ensure that the Rebels came to the tapes each time with both their riders.

Emil Kramer was the next to suffer a ‘track induced’ incident. Edinburgh’s Wölbert locking up in front of the Somerset rider as they came off the second turn, in turn causing Kramer to come to a virtual standstill, which allowed Wethers through into second place behind the now recovered Wölbert. Gathercole impressively came from behind to take Rajkowski to win heat 4.

Until now the track had become better with every passing heat, but the drizzle had by now returned, making the track greasy once again, with Gathercole being its next victim in heat 6. He lost control on the 4^th bend when in a comfortable lead, and what had looked to be a 4-2 heat win to the Rebels became a heat advantage for the Monarchs, their lead now stretching out to 10 points.

Kramer’s win in heat 7 maintained that differential, and so heat 8 saw Gathercole taking a double point tactical ride in an attempt to claw back some of that deficit. The Aussie did not disappoint, taking the heat victory and the six points that went with it to take the Rebels to within 7 points of their hosts. Those 7 points quickly became just 3 when Kramer and Simmons took full advantage of Fisher’s fall, after his bike shed a chain in heat 10, to take a maximum 5-1 heat win.

By now, however, the conditions were worsening with riders finding visibility becoming a real issue, even the race leaders finding it difficult to see as a result of the drizzle falling on their goggles.

With heats 11 and 12 going the way of the Monarchs to take them back out to a nine point lead, the two sides agreed that with rider safety being of paramount importance, in what had become difficult conditions, there was no alternative but to call a halt to the proceedings. The 42-33 scoreline in Edinburgh’s favour being declared the result as the minimum requirement of 12 heats had been completed.

Report Courtesy of Ian Belcher

NEWPORT WASPS
versus
SOMERSET REBELS

Newport Wasps = 44

1. Leigh Lanham – 2, 1^, 3, 1 = 7

2. James Holder – 0, 0, 3, 0 = 3

3. Jonas Andersson – 1*, 0, 2*, 1* = 4+3

4. Jordan Frampton – 2, 1, 3, 3, 2 = 11

5. Paul Fry – 1*, 3, 2, 3, 1* = 10+2

6. Kyle Newman – 0, 0, 0 = 0

7. Chris Kerr – 1, 2, fl, 4^, 2* = 9+1

Somerset Rebels = 48

1. Steve Johnston – 3, 2*, 1, 2, 3 = 11+1

2. Simon Walker – Rider Replacement

3. Jari Mäkinen – 0, 1*, 2, 0 = 3+1

4. Emil Kramer – 3, 2, 1*, 1, exl = 7+1

5. Cory Gathercole – 3, 2* , 2, 1, 0 = 8+1

6. Justin Sedgmen – 1, 2*, 3, 3, 0, 3, 3 = 15+1

7. Nick Simmons – 3, 0, 1*, 0 = 4+1

SCB Referee: Christina Turnbull

Heat Details

Heat 01: Johnston, Lanham, Sedgmen, Holder (2-4) (2-4) 59.09

Heat 02: Simmons, Sedgmen, Kerr, Newman (1-5) (3-9) 59.91

Heat 03: (Re-run) Kramer, Frampton, Andersson, Mäkinen (3-3) (6-12) 58.47

Heat 04: Gathercole, Kerr, Fry, Simmons (3-3) (9-15) 58.31

Heat 05: Sedgmen, Johnston, Frampton, Andersson (1-5) (10-20) 58.31

Heat 06: Sedgmen, Gathercole, Lanham (tactical), Holder (1-5) (11-25) 58.56

Heat 07: Fry, Kramer, Mäkinen, Newman (3-3) (14-28) 60.41

Heat 08: Holder, Gathercole, Simmons, Kerr (fell) (3-3) (17-31) 59.10

Heat 09: (Re-run) Frampton, Andersson, Gathercole, Sedgmen (5-1) (22-32) 58.50

Heat 10: Lanham, Mäkinen, Kramer, Holder (3-3) (25-35) 59.48

Heat 11: (Re-run) Sedgmen, Fry, Johnston, Newman (2-4) (27-39) 59.16

Heat 12: Sedgmen, Kerr (tactical), Andersson, Mäkinen (5-3) (32-42) 60.63

Heat 13: Fry, Johnston, Lanham, Gathercole (4-2) (36-44) 60.28

Heat 14: Frampton, Kerr, Kramer, Simmons (5-1) (41-45) 59.97

Heat 15: (Re-run) Johnston, Frampton, Fry, Kramer (exl) (3-3) (44-48) 61.06

With the race to the Play Offs hotting up, the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels arrived at Queensway Meadows on Sunday with a win on their minds. With Newport Wasps not having been in the best of form this season, including at home, hopes in the Rebels camp must have been high that they could carry away at least three points.

The introduction of Jari Mäkinen on Friday, facilitating the move of Justin Sedgmen to reserve, really paid dividends against the Brummies, and it was to have an equally important part to play in this encounter. The Rebels completely dominated the first half of the match, with Sedgmen in particular being absolutely on top of his game.

Having no answer to the Rebels early power, the Wasps did get themselves in some sort of order in the latter stages, and surprisingly forced a last heat decider. The Wasps didn’t start the day well, as their skipper Paul Fry arrived late, only just making the start of the meeting. It seems he was still at home in Hereford just over an hour before the official ‘tapes up’, as he was unaware of the re-scheduled earlier start time, having not been at the track the previous week because of injury.

From the outset the Rebels were right on the front foot, hitting the Wasps hard in the first two races. Steve Johnston took Heat 1 taking a wide line around the opening turns to lead on the back straight from Leigh Lanham. James Holder had clamped Justin Sedgmen to the kerb in the early turns, but it did him no good as Sedgmen immediately set about him, and by Lap 3 had worked an opening, and initially challenged on the second bend, before he sailed passed Holder off the final bend of the lap.

Sedgmen was out again in Heat 2, this time partnering former Wasp Nick Simmons. Chris Kerr has been piling in the points since moving to reserve for the Wasps, but he had no answer the Rebels duo after the first turn. Going to the bend level, he was left for dead as Simmons powered to the front with Sedgmen in attendance. Once in front the pair team rode home to a full house of points, with Simmons at the head of affairs. In his time at Newport this earlier season, Simmons was given some almighty stick by the fans, before being replaced in their line up, and after crossing the line he showed his delight in taking the race, indicating to the crowd, and those who booed him in the preliminaries in particular, that he was a Rebel now, and proud of it.

Two shared heats followed, with Emil Kramer taking victory in the first of these with a lightning start to lead the re-run Heat 3 all the way. In the original running, new boy Jari Mäkinen bolted from the gate along with Kramer, putting the Rebels on a second 5-1, but he was brought down in a tight first bend by Jordan Frampton, who had moved up his inside. It was a touch and go decision, but referee Christina Turnbull decided that all four riders should return to the tapes.

Cory Gathercole added Heat 4 to the Rebels winning tally, as he got the better of Paul Fry, with a superb outside run around the opening turns. To make matters worse for Fry he was passed by his team mate, Chris Kerr, on the second bend, leaving Gathercole to win in a canter from the Wasps pairing.

Heat 5 saw the Rebels push on, with the first of two consecutive 5-1’s, both involving that man Sedgmen. A level break between him, Steve Johnston and Jordan Frampton brought the trio into the first bend together, but it was Sedgmen, off the inside gate, who emerged in the lead as they ran to the next turn. Steve Johnston then cut inside Frampton as they exited the bend to enter the back straight, and from there on it was game over for the Wasps.

Sedgmen did it again in Heat 6, but this time from the opposite end of the gates. He broke level with Cory Gathercole, before getting a big lift on the run to the bend. As Gathercole clamped Leigh Lanham, who was on a tactical ride, to the kerb, Sedgmen roared around the whole field on the boards, to lead on the back straight. Gathercole pulled onto his back wheel, and rode shotgun for Sedgmen, as they pulled clear until the flag fell. With the Rebels now sporting a 14-point lead, things looked dire for the Wasps.

The next two heats were shared, with both wins going to home riders. Heat 7 saw a great early battle between Paul Fry and Emil Kramer, as both broke quickly. Kramer looked to have gifted the lead to Fry, when he lifted on the run to the bend. As he got the wheel down, Fry repaid the compliment, as he too found his wheel in the air, allowing Kramer to re-join the battle. In a tight bend Fry just got the better of things, and despite Kramer battling hard he could not find a way back to the front. He closed down Fry on Lap 3, and was close enough to challenge as they started the last lap, but he ran wide on the slick surface, and the chance was gone.

James Holder made the gate for the one and only time in Heat 8, and it led to his winning the race, and recording his only points of the day. He broke level with Chris Kerr and Cary Gathercole, and in a very tight first bend he led the race. Kerr grabbed second, but was never clear of Gathercole, who was all over his back wheel for the next three laps. Gathercole sailed around the outside of Kerr on the fourth bend of Lap 3, and almost immediately Nick Simmons put Kerr under pressure. As Simmons closed in, Kerr made a mistake, and fell on the first bend of the final lap, leaving the Rebels to share the points.

With passing at a premium, good gating was essential, as the Wasps had found to their cost in the first half of the match. As the second half started the Wasps suddenly discovered they could gate, and in Heat 9 Jonas Andersson flew from the traps to lead on the run to the line. As Jordan Frampton clamped Cory Gathercole to the kerb in the opening turn, Justin Sedgmen challenged Andersson on the inside of the same bend. As the young Swede turned in from the wide line he came into contact with Justin Sedgmen’s front wheel, and the pair took heavy falls. Whilst Andersson was quickly on his feet, Sedgmen took some time to rise, and when he did emerge from the gaggle of medics, he was clearly in pain from an injured wrist. However he did retake his place at the line, but got a terrible lift off the line, and his chance was gone. Andersson again made a great start, alongside Jordan Frampton, and the pair snubbed out the challenge of Cory Gathercole. Frampton took up the running on the back straight, and that was that.

 The Wasps took the win in Heat 10, but the Rebels shared the points. Emil Kramer broke quickly alongside Leigh Lanham, but once more got a big lift on the run to the bend. It was enough to give Lanham the advantage, which he took with relish. Jari Mäkinen nipped through to second as they ran to the back straight, and both Rebels set off after Lanham, but struggled to make headway as Lanham took the win.

Justin Sedgmen put the disappointment on a non-scoring race behind him, when he took his third win of the day in Heat 11. He blasted off the outside gate and rocketed around the whole field on the first turn, to lead off Bend 2. Steve Johnston was caught in the melee, as Paul Fry got out of shape on the second bend, hampering both Johno, and to a lesser extent, his team partner Kyle Newman. Fryer held it together enough to just hold off the hampered Rebels skipper, after Johno had come passed Newman on the next lap. Johno did get in a challenge on the opening bend of the final lap, but couldn’t find a way passed Fry. Meanwhile Sedgmen streaked into the distance, and took an easy win.

Sedgmen took his seventh and final ride in the very next heat, and in the process foiled the Wasps attempt at a tactical full house. The race took two attempts to run, as Chris Kerr and Jari Mäkinen tangled in the first turn, and Mäkinen fell as the American gave him no room at all in the opening bend. It was a hard move, and many in the stadium were surprised to hear the call of ‘All Four Back’. In the re-run, Sedgmen got a good start, and ran for the wide line, only to find Kerr, who was wearing the ‘Black and White’ slip underneath him on the next bend. The Wasps pair than took up station together, and attempted to team ride the Rebels out of the race, but with Sedgmen on fire they had a difficult job on their hands.

The Rebels youngster was on them straight away, and harried the Wasps for the next three laps, never giving them a moment’s peace. At the end of lap three his persistence paid off, and coming off the final bend the home pairing drifted slightly apart. It wasn’t much of a gap, but Sedgmen needed no second invitation, as he urged his machine into the void. He was passed Jonas Andersson like a shot, and switched immediately to the wide line, and powered his machine beyond Kerr on the opening band of the final lap. It was a stunning move that had the large band of Rebels supporters on their feet, and cheering wildly, as he thwarted an almost certain 8-1 advantage for the Wasps. It also topped a fantastic day for the 17-year-old Victorian, as he took his fourth heat win of the day, and returned a superb 15+1-point tally.

The Heat 12 advantage for the Wasps had cut the Rebels lead to 10-points, and it was further reduced as the home side took Heat 13 by 4-2, a race that gave Paul Fry his 100^th win in Wasps colours. A three way level break concerning Fry, Steve Johnston and Leigh Lanham, saw Fry grab the lead on the second bend. Johno gave chase, but could never peg Fry back, and the former Rebel took the heat from Johno, with Lanham easily holding off the slow starting Cory Gathercole for third.

The Wasps were now on a roll and shocked the Rebels and their fans with a maximum win in Heat 14. The Wasps replaced Kyle Newman with Chris Kerr, and the Californians introduction paid dividends as he broke quickly alongside his team mate Jordan Frampton. Emil Kramer also made a good gate between the pair, but was caught in a pincer movement on the first turn, and got squeezed out as a result. He kept the front two under pressure, but couldn’t recover from the first bend skirmish. The result had brought the Wasps right back in contention, setting up a last heat decider in the process.

The home side tracked the two F’s, Frampton and Fry, in the nominated heat, whilst the Rebels sent Johnston and Kramer to the tapes. The field broke level from the line, and for a second time in two heats Kramer was the meat in the sandwich and the victim of a lot of elbow work running into the first turn, leaving him at the rear, as Johno took up the running. Kramer was clearly intent on winning back a place, and was all over Fry over the first lap. He challenged off the final bend, but couldn’t get the advantage, and at the opening bend of the second lap, ran hard up the inside as Fry moved wide. Fry went down, and from the referee’s perspective it appeared that Kramer had taken out Fry, and was excluded from the re-run. As Kramer ran back round to the straight he was clearly angry, and he may have had just cause, as it was suggested later by some, who were nearer the action than the referee, that there was no contact between the pair, and Fry had just run out of room.

It was a big boost to the Wasps, as they now had a second chance of at least getting a draw, or even a win should Johnston not complete the race. In the end Johnston never gave them the opportunity to take any points, as he bolted from the gates to lead all the way, winning with plenty in hand. The shared points, much to the relief and obvious delight of the large throng of travelling Rebels fans, gave the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels the win, and three extremely valuable, and very welcome away points, especially in view of the Wasps late revival.

Every Rebels rider contributed to the victory, but the undoubted star of the day was Justin Sedgmen, whose stunning performance set up the Rebels victory. The win keeps the Rebels in fourth place in the table, just 1-point in front of Workington, but the Cumbrian side have a match in hand, and the Rebels will have to be in top form in the closing weeks of the season if they are to progress to the Play Offs.

They will have the opportunity to add three more points to their tally next Friday, when they take on the Wasps in the return leg of this fixture, but no one at the Oak Tree Arena will be counting their chickens, as Speedway has an annoying habit of creeping up behind you and biting you in the backside when you least expect it.

RYE HOUE ROCKETS
versus
SOMERSET REBELS
22nd August 2009

Rye House Rockets – 57
1. Rob Mear - flx, 1, 1*, 3 = 5+1
2. Linus Sundstrom - 3, 3, 3, 2, 3 = 14
3. Luke Bowen - 1*, 2, 2*, 3 = 8+2
4. Chris Neath - 2, ret, 3, 3, 1 = 9
5. Joe Haines - 1*, 3, 3, 0 = 7+1
6. Tommy Allen - 3, flx = 3 (Withdrawn injured)
7. Andrew Silver - 2*, 2, 2*, 1, 2*, 2* = 11+4


Somerset Rebels - 35
1. Steve Johnston - 2, 3, 4^, 1* = 10+1
2. Simon Walker - Rider Replacement
3. Justin Sedgmen - 1*, ret, 1*, 0, 1 = 3+2
4. Emil Kramer - 3, 2, 3, 0^, 2 = 10
5. Cory Gathercole - 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 0 = 9
6. Ben Hopwood - 1, 1, 0, 0, 1 = 3
7. Matt Wright - 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 0

SCB Referee: Dale Entwistle

Heat Details

Heat 01: Re-run Sundstrom, Johnston, Sedgmen (3-3) (3-3) 56.3
Heat 02: Allen, Silver, Hopwood, Wright (5-1) (8-4) 58.4
Heat 03: Kramer, Neath, Bowen, Sedgmen (ret) (3-3) (11-7) 57.3
Heat 04: Gathercole, Silver, Haines, Wright (3-3) (14-10) 56.9
Heat 05: Johnston, Bowen, Hopwood, Neath (ret) (2-4) (16-14) 57.8
Heat 06: Sundstrom, Gathercole, Mear, Wright (4-2) (20-16) 57.2
Heat 07: Re-run Haines, Kramer, Sedgmen (3-3) (23-19) 57.3
Heat 08: Sundstrom, Silver, Gathercole, Hopwood (5-1) (28-20) 57.2
Heat 09: Neath, Bowen, Gathercole, Wright (5-1) (33-21) 57.4
Heat 11: Haines, Johnston (tactical), Silver, Hopwood (3-3) (40-28) 58.3
Heat 12: Bowen, Silver, Sedgmen, Wright (5-1) (45-29) 58.2
Heat 13: Mear, Gathercole, Johnston, Haines (3-3) (48-32) 58.1
Heat 14: Neath, Silver, Hopwood, Kramer (tactical) (5-1) (53-33) 58.5
Heat 15: Sundstrom, Kramer, Neath, Gathercole (4-2) (57-35) 58.2

On Saturday the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels travelled to Hoddesdon to renew their rivalry with the Rye House ‘Silver Ski’ Rockets. Just 24 hours earlier the Rebels had bravely defeated a full strength Rockets septet, with just 5 regular riders and two very inexperienced stand in reserves. A trip to Hertfordshire is not normally fruitful for the Rebels, and this trip to the home of the Rockets was made even more difficult when Simon Walker withdrew after aggravating an old wrist injury in Friday night’s encounter, leaving just four regular riders to carry the burden. The Rebels task was made even more difficult with the inclusion of the Rockets excellent Swedish teenager Linus Sundström, who was expected to travel to Denmark to contest the European U19 Team Championship final and miss this match. However he was given permission to miss the official practice session to take his place in the Rockets side.

In the event the Rebels did really well to hold the Rockets in the early stages, but they might have been forgiven for thinking that luck had deserted them when Steve Johnston took a heavy looking fall in Heat 1, after he was carted through the safety fence when Robert Mear failed to turn at the first bend. In Mear’s defence it did look as though he may have suffered a stuck throttle.

Mear, who was down for some time, was excluded from the re-run leaving Linus Sundström the only home representative. Sundström and Johnston broke level, racing to the bend side-by-side. Johnston almost made it around the outside, but in the end it was Sundström who emerged in front from the second turn. Sundström just eked out a small advantage that Johnston was never able to claw back.

As in the home leg the Rebels two young reserves were vastly outgunned by the Rye House duo, and as at The Oak Tree Arena the Rockets took a maximum advantage in Heat 2. However Andrew Silver made much harder work of it after almost coming to grief on the second bend, trying to pass the quickly away Matthew Wright. It was enough to give Ben Hopwood the opportunity to come through to join Wright in the minor places. Much to the delight of the home fans Silver gave chase and produced an entertaining display of riding the outside line, as he first picked off Hopwood on Lap 3, and finally on the last lap, the fast starting Wright.

The Rebels shared the next two Heats with good wins from Emil Kramer, who led all the way to take Heat 3. His partner, Justin Sedgmen trapped in third, but was passed by Luke Bowen on the fourth turn, before retiring with mechanical problems on the third lap.

Cory Gathercole had a ding-dong battle with Andrew Silver in Heat 4. Gathercole was quickly away, and led before the turn as he took advantage of a big lift by Joe Haines off the line. Silver again had to come from behind the smartly away Matthew Wright. He powered round the first to turns and was quickly challenging Gathercole. The Rebels charger had no intention of giving way, and for two laps he made sure Silver would have to take the longest way round if he wanted the win. In the event it did the job, and on the third lap he had seen off the flying Silver, and pulled clear to take the victory.

Steve Johnston added a third Somerset heat win in Heat 5, and gave the Rebels their first, and sadly only, heat advantage of the evening in the process. For some time it looked as though the Rockets would take the advantage as Chris Neath got the better of early affairs to lead, from his team mate, Luke Bowen, as the pair squeezed out Johnston on the first turn. Johno made an immediate challenge to Bowen, passing him on the back straight. Neath seemed to be holding the challenging Rebels skipper, when he suddenly lost power, and dropped out of the running, leaving the Rebels to take a 2-4 advantage, to put them just two points in arrears.

The Rockets hit back immediately with a 4-2 of their own, as Linus Sundström just got the better of Cory Gathercole in a tight battle around the opening bends. Once in front he held the hard charging Gathercole, who try as he might, could not close the gap. Robert Mear took an easy third place.

The following heat was shared, with the Rockets providing the winner in Joe Haines, however it might have been a different story had Tommy Allen not fallen on the fourth turn. After his fall, Allen had to withdraw from the meeting with a suspected broken finger. Emil Kramer and Justin Sedgmen had both made good starts in the original running, and with Kramer at the head of affairs, followed by Sedgmen, the Rebels were in line for a maximum advantage. In the re-start the inevitable happened, as Haines bolted from the gate alongside Kramer, and just got the better of stylish Swede of the second bend. Kramer chased hard, but wasn’t helped as he twice picked up grip, and had to control big lifts as he was delivering challenges to Haines. Sedgmen took third, but only just got over the line as he once more encountered mechanical problems on the final lap.

From here on in to the end of the final heat the Rockets stamped their authority on the match, and despite 100% effort, the under strength Rebels couldn’t get to grips with the Rockets powerful home form. Heats 8 and 9 both when to the home side, as they recorded maximums in each.

Heat 8 saw three riders, Sundström, Gathercole and Silver, go to the first turn three abreast. In a tight couple of bends the Rockets pair emerged just in front, with Gathercole all over the back wheel of Silver. His close attentions forced Silver into a mistake, running very wide on the final bend of Lap 2. Gathercole was on him in a flash, but the Rockets veteran reserve did just enough, and though Gathercole raced him all the way, Silver used all his vast experience to block him out.

Gathercole was out again in the very next heat, and unfortunately spun up badly when he dropped the clutch at the tape rise. It was enough to give his rivals the edge, and they wasted no time in grabbing an early lead. Gathercole chased hard, but the damage was done, as the Rockets took an easy 5-1.

Two shared heats followed to maintain the Rockets 12-point lead. Emil Kramer made a blinding start to Heat 10 and led fellow countryman Sundström to the turn. Things got a bit tight between the pair, and Sundström got out of shape, impeding his team mate in the process. It was a racing incident that many referees would have let go, but Dale Entwistle deemed it an unsatisfactory start, and called them back.

In the re-run, Kramer again blitzed Sundström from the gates, and led from the first turn. For a couple of laps the teenager harried Kramer, until the Rebels favourite eased out a lead that was to see him home, with Rob Mear taking third place. That was to be Sundström’s only defeat of the night.

Although Joe Haines took Heat 12, the points were shared 4-4 as second placed Steve Johnston took a tactical ride. Johnston was slowly away, but cut inside Andrew Silver on the second turn to grab second spot. By the time he got through Johnston had a lot of ground to make up on Haines, and it proved too big a gap to close. He also had to fend off the attentions of Silver, until the latter lost control on the second bend of the final lap, ending up over the camber and almost into the fence. Ben Hopwood in fourth was not close enough to take advantage of Silvers indiscretion.

Justin Sedgmen made a great start in Heat 12, but couldn’t capitalise, as he had to go the long way round the first two bends. He was a close up third, and challenged Andrew Silver in the middle of the race, almost making it through on a couple of occasions, but in the end Silver just had enough to hold him out and give the Rockets their fourth 5-1 of the night.

A level break in Heat 13 gave the Rebels some hope, especially after Cory Gathercole moved Joe Haines wide on the first bend, virtually ending the Bolton born youngster’s chances. He then turned the bike very hard, and shot down the outside of the back straight to take second place. He put in a strong chase, but could never get at Robert Mear at the front. The win by Mear was the only bright spot in two pretty poor performances against the Rebels. Steve Johnston took third to share the points.

With a 15-point lead the Rockets had virtually sealed the 3-points, but the Rebels still had a mathematical chance of taking a valuable away point. To that end Steve Bishop used his second tactical ride, and sent out Emil Kramer in the ‘Black and White’. In the event the Rockets pair just got the better start, and blocked out Kramer at the first turn. As Chris Neath made the best of his way home, Andrew Silver was battling hard to stay ahead of Kramer, who was al over his back wheel. In the end Kramer’s challenge ended, when he fell victim the Hoddesdon circuit’s infamous camber on the second turn, giving the Rockets another 5-1.

The nominated heat saw Sundström and Neath take the track for the home side, and the superb Emil Kramer, and Cory Gathercole represented the Rebels. The race turned out to be a battle of the Swedes, with Sundström taking the honours. Sundström broke level with Kramer and Gathercole, and eased to the front around the second bend, with Kramer chasing. That was the way it stayed, right to the final straight, when Chris Neath, who had been closing in on Gathercole, swooped around the outside to grab third on the line.

The final result was a resounding 57-35 victory to the Rockets, but the fans of the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels can be proud of their team, because they fought all the way to the final race, despite being put at such a disadvantage by their injury crisis.

The Rebels now need to regroup before the rescheduled visit of the Birmingham Brummies. With the Brummies running into a superb vein of form, with recent good victories home and away, the Rebels are sure to be in for a tough time, and there unbeaten home record may come under attack. That is something the Rebels will want to prevent, despite their current injury problems.

Birmingham ‘BRC Roofing' Brummies
versus
Somerset ‘Sharp' Rebels

SCB Referee: Barbara Horley

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 01: Johnston, Harrison, Lawson, Walker (3-3) (3-3) 59.7
Heat 02: Smart, Herne, Simmons, Taylor (5-1) (8-4) 60.0
Heat 03: Sweetman, Lindgren, Sedgmen, Kramer (5-1) (13-5) 59.3
Heat 04: Lyons, Gathercole, Smart, Simmons (4-2) (17-7) 59.4
Heat 05: Johnston^, Lindgren, Sweetman, Walker (3-6) (20-13) 59.9
Heat 06: Gathercole, Lawson, Taylor, Harrison (flrmnt) (2-4) (22-17) 59.2
Heat 07: (re-run) Kramer, Sedgmen, Lyons, Herne (fell-exl) (1-5) (23-22) 60.1
Heat 08: Smart, Harrison, Walker, Simmons (5-1) (28-23) 60.0
Heat 09: Sweetman, Gathercole, Taylor, Lindgren (fell) (3-3) (31-26) 59.3
Heat 10: Kramer, Sedgmen, Lawson, Harrison (1-5) (32-31) 60.1
Heat 11: Johnston, Lyons, Walker, Herne (2-4) (34-35) 60.6
Heat 12: (re-run) Lindgren, Sedgmen, Smart, Simmons (4-2) (38-37) 60.1
Heat 13: Johnston, Lawson, Lyons, Gathercole (3-3) (41-40) 60.5
Heat 14: Sweetman, Smart, Kramer, Simmons (5-1) (46-41) 59.7
Heat 15: Lindgren, Johnston, Sweetman, Gathercole (4-2) (50-43) 59.9

The Somerset Rebels travelled to Birmingham with the Brummies having just hit a rich vein of form, picking up two away victories in as many days over the weekend, and being the first team to defeat Rye House on their own track in 65 matches, and then they followed that up by taking maximum points at Newport the following day.

It looked as if Birmingham were going to carry on from where they left off at the weekend as they hit Somerset hard from the start and after just four heats they had established a ten point lead, with Somerset skipper Steve Johnston seemingly be able to match the home rides with an impressive win in the opening heat.

Somerset team manager, Steve Bishop, wasted no time in making a double point tactical move, sending Johnston out in the black and white helmet colour in heat 5. Johno did everything that was expected of him in taking the race win, and although his race partner, Simon Walker, failed to get amongst the points, it did mean that the Rebels had cut the deficit to 7 points.

Suddenly, just two heats later that deficit was down to a single point as a combination of tenacious riding and Lady Luck favouring the Rebels saw Somerset get themselves right back in this match.

Heat 6 saw Somerset's Cory Gathercole head the dash into the first turn, clamping Brummie guest William Lawson on the inside line to hold his advantage. Behind Gathercole, Harrison gave chase, harrying his adversary in an attempt to find a way into the lead, but the Somerset rider held firm, and as the pair took to the final turn, Harrison tried one last blast around the outside in a last ditch move to get to the front. Unfazed, Gathercole held his line and Harrison found himself coming to grief which as a consequence allowed Somerset guest Ben Taylor collect a gift point for third place.

Somerset's fortunes got even better in the following heat, as, at the second time of asking, Birmingham's Jay Herne being excluded for falling in the first running, Emil Kramer swept past home skipper, Jason Lyons, as the riders took to the back straight. With Justin Sedgmen now challenging Lyons for second place, the veteran Aussie made a slight mistake as the riders came off the 4 th bend on the second lap, needing no second invitation, Sedgmen was through into second place. The expected Lyons fight-back never materialised as he suffered a puncture leaving Somerset to pick up a maximum 5-1 heat advantage.

The Brummies hit back immediately with a 5-1 of their own in heat 8 to take their lead back out to 5 points before Somerset had another slice of fortune come their way in heat 9 when Ludvig Lindgren, holding a comfortable third place, inexplicably lost control of his bike as he came off the final bend and came crashing to the ground just yards from the finishing line, allowing Ben Taylor to pick up third place to give Somerset a share of the spoils.

Perhaps sensing that this might just be their night, the Rebels picked up their second maximum heat win of the night in heat 10, Emil Kramer winning it from the gate, whilst behind him Justin Sedgmen and William Lawson were involved in a real ‘ding-dong' battle for second place, Sedgmen belying his relative inexperience by fighting back after Lawson had passed him for second place with a classic cut back pass, and with it bring the Rebels back to within a point of their hosts.

Just 60 seconds later and Somerset were, quite amazingly after the torrid start they had, in front, Johnston and Walker racing to a heat advantage to take the Rebels into a slender one point lead.

Again, Birmingham hit back, Ludvig Lindgren showing no ill-effects of his earlier fall by winning ahead of Sedgmen, and with Smart picking up the point for third place for the Brummies, and it was now the home side's turn to lead by just a single point.

If most of the luck up to now had seemed to be residing in the Somerset side of the pits, that was to change big time in the all important heat 13. After a tight first bend, Steve Johnston forced his way to the front, but in trying to manoeuvre himself to deal with the a challenge by Jason Lyons, Johno inadvertently blocked the path of his team-mate, Cory Gathercole, who had moved through into second place with a terrific burst of speed off the second bend. With no alternative but to shut off the power, the Birmingham duo eased ahead of the unfortunate Gathercole and instead of a potential maximum heat win going the way of the Rebels, that would have seen them in front with just two heats remaining, they went into those final two heats still that point in arrears.

The change of fortune in heat 13 seemed to galvanise the home riders, and they secured meeting victory with a maximum 5-1 heat win in the penultimate race, but the Rebels still had a chance of taking a well deserved point from the match provided that they did not allow Birmingham to take any sort of heat advantage from the fifteenth and final heat.

Unfortunately for the large band of travelling Somerset fans it wasn't to be as Lindgren just got the better of the hitherto unbeaten Johnston round the first turn and then thwarted every move that Johno put on the young Swede in an attempt to find a way past and into the lead.

Behind this battle, Sweetman had crucially come past Gathercole into third place, and although the Birmingham rider lifted alarmingly as they came off the final bend with just a lap to go, careering across the track, hitting the safety fence and then veering in front of Gathercole, who had to ease off to avoid what could have been a nasty looking accident, the referee allowed the race to continue, and with it went any hopes the Rebels had of taking anything from this match as Birmingham ran out the eventual winners by 7 points on the night.

REDCAR BEARS
versus
SOMERSET REBELS
30th July 2009

REDCAR BEARS52
1. Ty Proctor 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, = 14
2. Robbie Kessler 1*, 2*, 2, 1, = 6+2
3. Ben Wilson 2, 2, 3, 3, = 10
4. Carl Stonehewer 1*, 1*, 1, 2, = 5+2
5. Gary Havelock (C) 2, 3, 3, 2*, 2*, = 12+2
6. Arlo Bugeja 1*, 0, 1, 1*, = 3+2
7. Craig Branney (G) 2, 0, R, 0, = 2
Team Manager: Brian Havelock

SOMERSET REBELS 41
1. Steve Johnston (C) 3, 3, 2, 1, R, = 9
2. Simon Walker 0, 0, 1, 0, = 1
3. Nick Simmons 0, 1*, 2, = 3+1
4. Emil Kramer 3, 2, 0, 6^, 1, = 12
5. Cory Gathercole 3, 1, 2, 0, = 6
6. Adam Lowe Fx, 0, 0, = 0
7. Justin Sedgmen 3, 1, 3, 2, 1*, 0, = 10+1
Team Manager: David Croucher

PREMIER LEAGUE FOURS
WORKINGTON
25th JULY 2009

Group A

Kings Lynn = 11
1. Kozza Smith - T, 0 = 0

2. Tomas Topinka - 3, 3 = 6
3. Chris Schramm - 2, 2 = 4

4. Emiliano Sanchez - 1, 0 = 1
Reserve: Jan Graversen - ret = 0

Somerset = 12
1. Steve Johnston - 3, 1 = 4

2. Emil Kramer - 2, 2 = 4

3. Cory Gathercole - 1, 3 = 4

4. Simon Walker - 0 = 0
Reserve: Justin Sedgmen - 0 = 0

Redcar = 11
1. Ty Proctor - 3, 2 = 5

2. Gary Havelock - 0, 2 = 2

3. Carl Stonehewer - 3, exl

4. Ben Wilson - flx, 1 = 1
Reserve: Arlo Bugeja DNR

Berwick = 14
1. Michal Makovsky - 2, 3 = 5

2. Josef Franc - 1, 3 = 4
3. Paul Clews - 2, 1 = 3

4. Tero Aarnio - 1, 1 = 2
Reserve: Greg Blair DNR

Heat Results

Heat 01: Re-run Stonehewer, Kramer, Aarnio, Graversen ef
Heat 02: Re-run Topinka, Makovsky, Gathercole
Heat 03: Proctor, Schramm, Franc, Walker
Heat 04: Johnston, Clews, Sanchez, Havelock
Heat 05: Makovsky, Proctor, Johnston, Smith
Heat 06: Franc, Kramer, Wilson, Sanchez
Heat 07: Re-run Gathercole, Schramm, Clews
Heat 08: Topinka, Havelock, Aarnio, Sedgmen

Rebels and Bandits to final from Group A.

Group B

Workington = 18
1. Kevin Doolan - 3, 1 = 4

2. Adrian Rymel - 2, 3 = 5

3. Andre Compton - 3, 3 = 6
4. Richard Lawson - 2, 1 = 3
Reserve: John Branney DNR

Edinburgh = 12
1. Ryan Fisher - 3, ret = 3
2. Aaron Summers - 1, 0 = 1
3. Matthew Wethers - 3, 2 = 5

4. Michal Rajkowski - 2, 1 = 3
Reserve: Byron Bekker DNR

Rye House = 12
1. Chris Neath - 1, 2 = 3

2. Rob Mear - 1, 2 = 3

3. Linus Sundstrom - 2, 1 = 3
4. Luke Bowen - 1, 2 = 3
Reserve: Tommy Allen DNR

Scunthorpe = 06
1. Magnus Karlsson - 0, 3 = 3

2. David Howe - 0, 3 = 3

3. Carl Wilkinson - 0, ret = 0
4. Simon Lambert - 0, 0 = 0
Reserve: Ritchie Hawkins DNR


Heat Results

Heat 01: Doolan, Sundstrom, Summers, Lambert
Heat 02: Wethers, Rymel, Bowen, Karlsson
Heat 03: Compton, Rajkowski, Neath, Howe
Heat 04: Fisher, Lawson, Mear, Wilkinson
Heat 05: Karlsson, Neath, Doolan, Fisher
Heat 06: Howe, Bowen, Lawson, Summers
Heat 08: Rymel, Mear, Rajkowski, Lambert

Workington and Edinburgh to final from Group B.

GRAND FINAL

Berwick = 13
1. Tero Aarnio - 0, 0, 0 = 0

2. Michal Makovsky - 1, 3, 0 = 4

3. Josef Franc - 2, 1, 1 = 4
4. Paul Clews - 2, 1, 2 = 5
Reserve: Greg Blair DNR


Workington = 27
1. Kevin Doolan - 3, 3, 1 = 7

2. Adrian Rymel - 3, 3, 3 = 9

3. Andre Compton - 3, 3, 3 = 9
4. Richard Lawson - 1, 0, 1 = 2
Reserve: John Branney DNR

Somerset = 18
1. Steve Johnston - 3, 2, 3 = 8

2. Emil Kramer - 0, 2, 0 = 2

3. Cory Gathercole - 2, 2, 2 = 6

4. Simon Walker - 0, 0 = 0
Reserve: Justin Sedgmen - 2 = 2


Edinburgh = 14
1. Ryan Fisher - 2, 1, 2 = 5

2. Aaron Summers - 0, 2, 1 = 3
3. Matthew Wethers - 1, 0, 3 = 4

4. Michal Rajkowski - 1, 1, 0 = 2
Reserve: Byron Bekker DNR


Heat Results

Heat 01: Rymel, Gathercole, Rajkowski, Aarnio
Heat 02: Compton, Fisher, Makovsky, Walker
Heat 03: Johnston, Franc, Lawson, Summers
Heat 04: Doolan, Clews, Wethers, Kramer
Heat 05: Doolan, Johnston, Fisher, Aarnio
Heat 06: Rymel, Summers, Clews, Walker
Heat 07: Compton, Gathercole, Franc, Wethers
Heat 08: Makovsky, Kramer, Rajkowski, Lawson
Heat 09: Wethers, Sedgmen, Lawson, Aarnio
Heat 10: Compton, Clews, Summers, Kramer
Heat 11: Rymel, Gathercole, Franc, Rajkowski
Heat 12: Johnston, Fisher, Doolan, Makovsky

WORKINGTON ARE CHAMPIONS
SOMERSET RUNNERS UP
EDINBURGH 3^RD

After a week of unsettled weather across most of Britain the day dawned bright and clear over Derwent Park, Workington on Saturday. Eight of the Premier Leagues top teams had come together to contest the Premier League Four Team Tournament. Assembled with last year’s victors Workington were the reigning league champions Edinburgh, current KO Cup holders Somerset, and representatives from Berwick, Kings Lynn, Redcar, Rye House and Scunthorpe.

Workington would be hard to beat on their home shale, and the four from Kings Lynn looked strong despite being without injury victim and this year’s sensation, Darcy Ward. Edinburgh were another who were in with a shout, but again they were without one of their first choices, Andrew Tully. Former ‘Fours’ winners, the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels have finished on the podium every time they have contested this event, so they clearly fancied their chances of at least a repeat of that.

The Rebels were drawn in ‘Group A’ against Kings Lynn, Berwick and Redcar, with the rest in the other group. As it turned out the Rebels group was a tight affair all the way through, and at Heat 4 the four teams were all tied on 6-points each. The Rebels made a steady start, as Emil Kramer took second place in his opening ride. Carl Stonehewer made his Derwent Park experience pay with an all the way win in the re-started heat after Darcy Ward’s replacement Kozza Smith tried to make a quick getaway, breaking the tapes, and being replaced by Jan Graversen.

Heat 2 was also re-run following a coming together between Ben Wilson and Michal Makovsky, with Wilson being excluded for his troubles. The restart went to Tomas Topinka to make up for his teams dreadful start in the heat before. With Cory Gathercole taking third, after falling and remounting, the teams were all tied on 3-point each.

The Rebels did not add to their points until Heats 4 and 5, as Steve Johnston took 4-points from two consecutive rides. He took the win in Heat 4 after a tight battle with Emiliano Sanchez, as the pair passed, and re-passed each other on the opening lap, with Johnston taking the lead with a superb cut back off the final bend of Lap 1. Paul Clews came with a late run to grab second spot late in the day from the little Argentinean.

In the next heat he could only take third, and was a spectator as Ty Proctor and Michal Makovsky shared the lead a few times before the race was done. Berwick put themselves right in contention as they also took the next heat, with Josef Franc leading all the way from the second bend. The Rebels Emil Kramer took second, putting them right in the mix.

Cory Gathercole guided the Rebels into second place with a superb win in Heat 7, having to do it twice as the original race was called back as Carl Stonhewer and Chris Schramm tangled. Much to his disgust, and that of the Workington and Redcar supporters, he was excluded, prompting him to throw off his race jacket in a show of absolute petulance at the referee, Dave Dowling.

Rebels reserve Justin Sedgmen took a ride in Heat 8, and had a terrific battle for third, before having to give best to Tero Aarnio on the run to the line. With Gary Havelock only taking second behind a runaway Tomas Topinka, the Rebels progressed to the final alongside the Berwick Bandits.

In the other semi-final the Workington Comets led all the way to qualify as group winners with 18-points. Second place and the final qualifying spot went to the Edinburgh Monarchs. The Monarchs ended on the same points as Rye House, but qualified on the number of race wins.

They were lucky on two counts, firstly Rye House were the only team not to score a heat win, and in Heat 5 Ryan Fisher had an engine failure with half a lap to go. Kevin Doolan had suffered the same fate with over a lap to go, and was in the process of ‘pushing home’ to the roars of the home supporters. Fisher with over half a lap on Doolan, and much to the consternation of the Monarchs fans, refused to do any more than push his bike onto the centre green, and make his way back to the pits. In the meantime Doolan completed his lap, urged on by the whole crowd, and an assorted group of mechanics running alongside, and he did it within the 2 minute time limit to claim the final point in the race. Had the Monarchs been beaten by a point, Fisher might have had a lot of people to answer to.

The final was a bit of a one sided affair as far as the winners spot was concerned, as Workington careered away from the field, amassing an unassailable 27-p;oints in the process, and claiming their crown by Heat 10. The real race was for the podium places and in particular the runners up spot.

The final order for the remaining two steps on the podium were in doubt right up to the latter stages, and although the Rebels were never lost second spot after Heat 3, they were chased all the way by the other two. After an opening second spot by Cory Gathercole, and a non-scoring ride from Simon Walker, Steve Johnston started the ball rolling with a great win in Heat 3. He wasn’t best away, that honour went to Josef Franc, but he made a superb wide run around the second bend, and cut inside Franc to lead on the back straight.

Cory Gathercole ended the night with three second places, and Emil Kramer and Justin Sedgmen added a couple of points each. Steve Johnston made certain of the runners up place in the final heat, as he roared to the front after a flurry of elbows in the opening bend. He made a swoop on the very wide outside of the second bend to pass Kevin Doolan for second place, and then executed a sweet cut back off the final bend of the opening late to relegate Ryan Fisher to second place, and the Monarchs to the third step of the podium.

The racing strip at Derwent Park was not the best it has been, and a lot of the races were won at the gate. The main excitement was the closeness of the scoring in the Group stages, and for the runners up spot in the final, however there were some exciting races, and a lot of them seemed to involve Steve Johnston. So the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels record of never finishing off the podium is still intact, and they will surely be back next year to try to put themselves back on the top step.

GLASGOW 'A-PLANT' TIGERS
versus
SOMERSET 'SHARP' REBELS

Glasgow A-Plant Tigers = 48 - 2 League Points

1. James Grieves......... 3, 1, 3, 1, 1 = 9
2. Josh Grajczonek....... 2*, 3, 3, 1 = 9+1
3. William Lawson........ 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 0 = 11
4. R/R
5. Shane Parker.......... 3, 3, 2, 0 = 8
6. Mitchell Davey........ 2*, 0, 1, 1*, 0, 0 = 4+2
7. Lee Dicken............ 3, X, 1*, 1, 2* = 7+2

Somerset Rebels = 45 - 1 League Point

1. Steve Johnston........ 1, 3, 3, 2*, 3 = 12+1
2. Simon Walker.......... 0, 0, 2, 1 = 3
3. Nick Simmons.......... 2*, 0, 0, 1 = 3+1
4. Emil Kramer........... 3, 2, 2, 2 = 9
5. Cory Gathercole....... 1*, 2, 6!, 3, 2* = 14+2
6. Tom Brown............. 1, 0, 0, X = 1
7. Justin Sedgmen........ 0, 2, 0, 1* = 3+1

Heat Details:

Heat 01: Grieves, Grajczonek, Johnston, Walker (5-1) (5-1) 57.9
Heat 02: Dicken, Davey, Brown, Sedgmen (5-1) (10-2) 59.5
Heat 03: Kramer, Simmons, Lawson, Davey (1-5) (11-7) 59.1
Heat 04: (Rerun) Parker, Sedgmen, Gathercole, Dicken (flx) (3-3) (14-10) 59.3
Heat 05: Johnston, Lawson, Dicken, Walker (3-3) (17-13) 59.2
Heat 06: Grajczonek, Gathercole, Grieves, Brown (3-3) (17-13) 59.2
Heat 07: Parker, Kramer, Davey, Simmons (4-2) (25-17) 59.1
Heat 08: Grajczonek, Walker, Dicken, Sedgmen (4-2) (29-19) 60.4
Heat 09: Gathercole(tactical), Lawson, Davey, Brown (3-6) (32-25) 59.9
Heat 10: Grieves, Kramer, Grajczonek, Simmons (4-2) (36-27) 60.7
Heat 11: Johnston, Parker, Walker, Davey (2-4) (38-31) 60.1
Heat 12: (Rerun) Lawson, Dicken, Simmons, Brown (flx) (5-1) (43-32) 59.9
Heat 13: Gathercole, Johnston, Grieves, Parker (1-5) (44-37) 59.8
Heat 14: Lawson, Kramer, Sedgmen, Davey (3-3) (47-40) 60.4
Heat 15: Johnston, Gathercole, Grieves, Lawson (1-5) (48-45) 60.4

For the second time in two days the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels took a precious away point, when they held the Glasgow ‘A Plant’ Tigers to just three points at Ashfield on Sunday. Unlike the previous evening at Berwick, when the Rebels were in the match the whole way, and at one point looked as though they might have won it, at Glasgow they were always behind the eight ball until very late in the day.

The opening heat might have given Somerset a clue as to how there day would go, when Steve Johnston made a great start, and first turn to lead the field, only for the referee to call them back for an unsatisfactory start. In the re-run the inevitable happened, as the home pair of Grieves and Grajczonek bolted away to win unchallenged. It wasn’t too long before the Rebels found themselves on the end of the worst possible start, as the Tigers reserves, Mitchell Davey and Lee Dicken served up more of the same, to leave the visitors 10-2 down after just two heats.

The Rebels halved the deficit in the next heat, when Emil Kramer and Nick Simmons powered away to a full house of their own, with William Lawson providing the strongest opposition by keeping Nick Simmons up to his work for the whole four laps.

Two shared heats followed, with the heat wins shared between both teams. Shane Parker took Heat 4, coming with a very late pass on the front running Justin Sedgmen. Parkers win came at the second attempt after Lee Dicken was excluded from the original running, after taking a nasty fall, as he got badly out of shape, and had his back wheel clipped by Cory Gathercole who had nowhere to go. Steve Johnston made a superb start, taking up the running on the wide outside of the second bend, before pulling way to win Heat 5 with ease.

With the scores still close the Tigers now took the match by the scruff of the neck, and hammered home three 4-2 advantages on the trot to pull 10-points clear by the end of Heat 8.  The returning Josh Grajczonek took Heat 6 with an all-the-way win. With Grajczonek out in front most of the action took place behind him, as Cory Gathercole chased down William Lawson, and came with a powerful run on the last bend. As Gathercole got to Lawson he picked up a huge amount of grip, which fired him straight across the bows of the Tigers latest signing. The pair somehow managed to avoid contact, as Gathercole stole second spot in the dying embers of the heat.

Emil Kramer made a great start, and easily lead Shane parker in Heat 7, only for Jim McGregor to call the field back for movement by Nick Simmons, who was at the rear of the field, and gained no advantage. In the restart ‘Sods Law’ came into play, and it was Parker who bolted clear of the tapes to lead Kramer for all four laps, with Mitchell Davey taking third.

Grajczonek was out again in Heat 8, and made his presence felt with another win, but this time he had to do it the hard way, after Simon Walker made a superb start to lead the opening two laps. The young Aussie hunted Walker down, and executed a neat inside pass of the final turn of Lap 2 to take the spoils for Glasgow.

As soon as the Rebels went 10-points down they took the tactical route to claw back some points. Cory Gathercole was the man nominated to wear the ‘Black and White’, and he made it pay in style. Firing from the line he lead every inch of the way to comprehensively defeat William Lawson. Unfortunately Tom Brown, who chased Mitchell Davey all the way, could not add to the Rebels score as they took a 3-6 advantage from Heat 9.

The teams swapped 4-2’s in the next two heats, with William Lawson leading all the way in Heat 10. Emil Kramer swooped on the outside of the back straight to account for Josh Grajczonek, and limit the damage for the Rebels. Heat 11 saw the Rebels restore the 7-point deficit, as Steve Johnston got the better of a close fought battle to the bend with Shane Parker. Once in front Johno never relinquished his lead, but Simon Walker had a close fight with Mitchell Davey for third spot. Walker looked to have it in safe keeping, but Davey sneaked in front off the last bend of the second lap, but Si-Co was soon back in third as they ran down the home straight.

The Tigers reclaimed a good lead as they powered to a 5-1 maximum in Heat 12. William Lawson took advantage of a nasty looking Tom Brown fall to take the re-run 5-1. In the original start, the Rebels packed the places until Lee Dicken came storming through off the second bend to dive through the middle of the Simmons/Brown pairing to take second spot. The Rebels gave chase, but Nick Simmons carried too much speed into the third bend of Lap 2, and the Rebels pair came together, with the resulting dramatic fall seeing Tom Brown excluded from the re-run.

It’s not often that Shane Parker and James Grieves are beaten on their home shale, but for the pairing to concede a 5-1 is unheard of, but that is exactly what happened in Heat 13. Steve Johnston and Cory Gathercole bolted from the gate, and were never headed. It was just a case of who would take the win, and that went to Gathercole as he ran round the wide line on the opening bends.

The Rebels must now have had thoughts that they could take something from the match, and no doubt they were looking at the possibility of actually stealing a win. However that possibility was blown away when William Lawson got the better of Emil Kramer in the battle for the opening bends of Heat 14. Kramer and his partner, Justin Sedgmen packed the places, and made sure that the team could still take points from the meeting, even though the win was now out of the question. Mitchell Davey never got in a blow on the Rebels pair, despite chasing hard all the way.

To take a precious away point the Rebels needed to take a heat advantage from the nominated heat, and that was going to be a tall order as the Tigers tracked their top two against Rebels skipper Steve Johnston and Cory Gathercole. Surely they couldn’t finish the meeting in style, and inflict another maximum defeat on the Tigers finest. There were not many at the stadium that could ever recall the Tigers conceding 5-1’s in both Heats 13 and 15, but that is exactly what the Rebels pair did, as they once again produced a jet-propelled start to lead every inch of the way, with Steve Johnston taking the honours on this occasion. It is a feat that not many have achieved, and it led Rebels General Manager Dave Croucher, to speculate that it might even be as long as 16 years since anyone last delivered a double ‘Coup de grasse’ to any Tigers top pairing.

The Rebels might not have been in the meeting for most of the day, but they once more delivered when the chips were down, and took their fourth ‘on the road’ point of the season, not bad for a team that many so called experts had written off as wooden spoon contenders at the beginning of the season. Make no mistake, the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels are no pushovers, as many have found to their cost this season.

After a two week break the Oak Tree Arena sees League action return, with the visit of the Stoke Potters on Friday. After the break for the Premier League pairs, and the Rebels away trip to the North, it will be a welcome homecoming for the Rebels supporters.

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Berwick ‘F1 Finance’ Bandits
versus
Somerset ‘SHARP’ Rebels 
Premier League

BERWICK BANDITS = 48 

1. Michal Makovski… 3, 2, 3, 2* = 10+1
2. Tero Aarnio… 0, R, 3, 0 = 3
3. Paul Clews… 2*, 1, 3, 3 = 9+1
4. Josef Franc… 3, 3, 2*, 3, 2 = 13+1
5. Stanislaw Burza… 2, 3, 3, 3 = 11
6. Greg Blair… 0, 0, 0, 0 = 0
7. Mitchell Davey… 2, N2, 0, 0, 0 = 2
Team Manager: Mr Dave Peet

SOMERSET REBELS = 42

1. Steve Johnston… 1*, 2, 2, N2, 3 = 8+1
2. Simon Walker… 2, 0, 2, 1* = 5+1
3. Nick Simmons… 1, 1*, 1*, 2 = 5+2
4. Emil Kramer… 0, 2, 2, 1* = 5+1
5. Cory Gathercole… 3, 3, 1, 0, 1 = 8
6. Tom Brown… 3, 1, 0, 1*, 1 = 6+1
7. Justin Sedgmen… 1, 1, 1*, 2 = 5+1
Team Manager: Mr Dave Croucher

SCB Referee: Mr Craig Ackroyd 

HEAT RESULTS: 

Heat 1 - Makovsky, Walker, Johnston, Aarnio - 3 - 3
Heat 2 - Tom, Davey, Sedgmen, Blair - 2 -4 - 5 - 7
Heat 3 - Franc, Clews, Simmons, Kramer - 5 – 1 - 10 - 8
Heat 4 - Gathercole, Burza, Sedgmen, Blair - 2 - 4. 12 – 12

Comments: Davey disq. On 2 minutes. Blair replaces.

Heat 5 - Franc, Johnston, Clews, Walker - 4 – 2 - 16 - 14
Herat 6 - Gathercole, Makovsky, Brown, Aarnio RET - 2 - 4. 18 - 18
Heat 7 - Burza, Kramer, Simmons, Blair - 3 - 3. 21 - 21.
Heat 8 - Aarnio, Walker, Sedgmen, Davey - 3 – 3 - 24 - 24
Heat 9 - Clews, Franc, Gathercole, Brown - 5 – 1 - 29 – 24
Heat 10 - Makovsky, Kramer, Simmons, Aarnio - 3 – 3 - 32 - 28
Heat 11 - Burza, Johnston, Walker, Blair - 3 – 3 - 35 - 31
Heat 12 - Clews, Simmons, Brown, Davey - 3 – 3 - 38 - 34
Heat 13 - Burza, Makovsky, Brown, Gathercole - 5 – 1 - 43 – 35

Comments: Johnston’s bike packed up. Disql. On 2 minutes. Brown replaces.

Heat 14 - Franc, Sedgmen, Kramer, Blair - 3 – 3 - 46 - 38
Heat 15 - Johnston, Franc, Gathercole, Burza - 2 – 4 - 48 - 42

After the previous night’s match at Edinburgh fell victim to the weather, the Rebels travelled to Berwick for their Premier League encounter with the Bandits.

In what was a close fought affair, Somerset drew first blood when after a shared opening heat, Berwick’s Makovsky heading home the Simon Walker and Steve Johnston combination, Tom Brown sped to victory in heat 2, and with Justin Sedgmen passing home reserve Greg Blair for third place, the Rebels took an early two point lead.

Berwick immediately hit back with a maximum 5-1 heat advantage courtesy of Franc and Clews, the latter forcing Somerset’s Emil Kramer very wide into the first turn to virtually end the Swede’s participation in the heat.  

Trailing now by two points, Somerset levelled the scores in heat 4, Cory Gathercole taking the race victory ahead of Burza for the Bandits, the Czech just pipping Justin Sedgmen on the line for second place after the Somerset reserve had thwarted all previous attempts by the Bandits’ number 5 to find a way past.

By the time the meeting moved into its second half, the scores were still tied at 24-all, but heat 9 was to be one of two pivotal heats that finally decided the outcome of this meeting.

The hitherto unbeaten Gathercole found himself squeezed out by the Bandits duo of Clews and Franc as the riders headed into the first turn, and was never able to get back on terms as the home side hit home a vital maximum 5-1 heat advantage to give them a four point lead.

Three drawn heats followed before the Rebels were to suffer cruel misfortune in heat 13 that virtually sealed the match the way of the Bandits.

After coming to the tapes for the start of the heat, Steve Johnston’s bike suddenly gave up the ghost on the Somerset skipper, and with him unable to get it started again within the allotted time allowance, he was duly excluded by the meeting referee.

With passing at a premium on the narrow Shielfield Park track, Somerset decided to send out reserve Tom Brown as replacement for Johnston rather than start him off a 15 metre handicap, hoping that Gathercole could perhaps take the heat win to at least keep the Rebels within striking distance of their opposition.

Unfortunately it wasn’t to be, however, as Gathercole found himself outpaced from the gate by the home duo and as a consequence the Rebels now found themselves 8 points in arrears with just two heats remaining.

A share of the spoils in heat 14 left Somerset needing a heat advantage in the fifteenth and final heat to earn themselves a point from this match, and it was Johnston who played the captain’s role by sweeping round the outside of Berwick’s Franc and Burza to fire himself into the lead.  Behind him Gathercole edged in front of Burza for third place, and with Johnston holding on for the race victory it brought Somerset to within six points of the Bandits and with it a well deserved league point.

Report courtesy: Ian Belcher

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Rye House ‘SILVER SKI’ Rockets
Versus
Somerset ‘SHARP’ Rebels

Premier League KNOCK-OUT CUP – 2^nd Leg

RYE HOUSE ROCKETS = 56 (93)

1. Jason Lyons (Guest)… 2', 3, 2', 0, 2 = 9+2
2. Tommy Allen… 3, (F), 1, 3, 3 = 10
3. RIDER REPLACEMENT (Joe Haines)
4. Chris Neath… 3, 3, 2, (2'), 3, R = 13+1
5. Linus Sundstrom… 1', (2'), E, 3, 1 = 7+1
6. Luke Bowen… 3, 3, (1'), 1, 2' = 10+2
7. Andrew Silver… 0, 2, (FD), 2', 3 = 7+1

Team Manager: Mr John Sampford 

SOMERSET REBELS = 34 (87)

1. Emil Kramer… 1, 1, 0, 2' = 4+1
2. Simon Walker… N2, 0, 1, 2 = 3
3. Jay Herne… 1', 1', 0, 1 = 3+2
4. Cory Gathercole… 2, 2, 1, 1, 1 = 7
5. Steve Johnston… 3, 2, 3, 3, 3 = 14
6. Tom Brown… 1', 0, 0, N, (0) = 1+1
7. Justin Sedgmen… (FD), 2, 0, 0, (0), N = 2

Team Manager: Mr Ronnie Russell

SCB Referee: Mr Chris Gay

HEAT RESULTS:

Heat 1: RE-RUN Allen, Lyons, Kramer, Sedgmen (fell & disql.) 5-1 58.2
Comments: Walkers bike packed up before the start and missed 2 minutes - replaced by Sedgmen
Heat 2: Bowen, Sedgmen, Brown, Silver 3-3 8-4 57.9
Heat 3: Neath, Gathercole, Herne, Allen (Fell) - 3-3 - 11-7 - 57.5
Comments: Allen R/R
Heat 4: Johnston, Silver, Sundstrom. Sedgmen - 3-3 - 14-10 - 58.5
Heat 5: Neath, Sundstrom, Kramer, Walker - 5-1 - 19-11 - 57.6
Comments: Sundstrom R/R
Heat 6: Lyons, Johnston, Allen, Brown 4-2 - 23-13 - 58.5
Heat 7: RE-RUN Bowen, Gathercole, Herne, Silver (fell & disql.), Sundstrom (disql. Tapes) - 3-3 - 26-16 - 59.3
Comments: Tactical gate Somerset off 1 and 2. Sundstrom touched tapes disqualified – replaced by Silver
Heat 8: Allen, Silver, Walker, Sedgmen - 5-1 - 31-17 - 59.8
Heat 9: RE-RUN Johnston, Neath, Bowen, Brown - 3-3 - 34-20 - 58.4
Comments: Bowen R/R
Heat 10: Allen, Lyons, Gathercole, Herne - 5-1 - 39-21 - 59.9
Heat 11: Sundstrom, Walker, Bowen, Kramer - 4-2 - 43-23 - 59.3
Heat 12: Silver, Neath, Herne, Sedgmen - 5-1 - 48-24 - 59.1
Comments: Neath R/R. Sedgmen for Brown
Heat 13: Johnston, Kramer, Sundstrom, Lyons 1-5 49-29 59.0
Comments: Tactical Gate Somerset 1 and 2.
Heat 14: Neath, Bowen, Gathercole, Brown 5-1 54-30 58.2
Comments: Brown for Sedgmen.
Heat 15: Johnston, Lyons, Gathercole, Neath (retired) - 2-4 - 56-34 - 58.4
Line-up: (R) Lyons, (B) Neath, (G) Johnston, (Y) Gathercole

The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels quest for a fourth consecutive KO Cup Final appearance, and the chance to retain the trophy they won last season came to an end on the dry, dusty, shaleless, and hard baked surface of the Hoddesdon home of the Rye House ‘Silver Ski’ Rockets.

It was a surface that prompted negative remarks from riders in both camps, with Rockets reserve, and son of the promoter, Andrew Silver heard to say ‘Where’s the shale?’ and Rebels skipper Steve Johnston was moved to comment ‘Jeez it’s hard’.
Although the last few visits to Hoddesdon has seen more dirt on the track than in recent years, this surface seemed, for whatever reason, to be a return to the ‘bad old days’ that had seen many away sides perish in the dustbowl that was the Rye House Raceway. It was so dry; all that was missing was a bleached cow skull, and some tumbleweed. 

Although the Rebels had arrived with a 16-point lead, it was always going to be a tight affair, as the Rockets are always more of a handful at home than they have been in recent season when visiting the Oak Tree Arena.
On the previous evening they had suffered with what can only kindly be described as a lack lustre performance from their skipper Chris Neath, and a few less points than they may have reasonably expected from their guest on the evening. 
The Rebels needed to keep it tight early on, but things started badly as early as Heat 1, with Simon Walkers machine stopping as he reached the start, and then steadfastly refusing to fire into life again, despite frantic efforts to coax it back into running order. 
The two minutes ticked away, and Walker was excluded to be replaced by Justin Sedgmen, who made a reasonable start when the tapes rose, and cut underneath inside to run into third place in front of Jason Lyons. Lyons came back at him as they ran to the line, and at the same time Sedgmen caught a big lift, but the bend came before he regained full control, and he fell taking the safety fence with him.
He rose to his feet unhurt, but was excluded from the re-run. The re-start saw a level break, but any chance Emil Kramer had ended as the Rockets pair squeezed him out on the first turn. He chased hard and was on the back wheel of Lyons for all four laps, but as soon as Lyons joined Allen at the front the pair just team rode any passing opportunity away. 

Sedgmen was back out immediately in the reserves heat, and again made a good start alongside home rider Luke Bowen. Although Andrew Silver challenged Sedgmen early on the young Aussie dispatched him at the first turn. Tom Brown followed Sedgmen through at the end of the lap, but despite closing on Bowen, the result was set from early on, on the slick dusty track, and the Rebels shared the points. 
Another shared heat followed when Cory Gathercole led from the tapes. Jay Herne was left at the line, as he moved just before the tapes rose, and was static as they went up.
As Gathercole continued to lead, Tommy Allen fell on the last bend of the opening lap, putting the Rebels on a 4-2. As the ran onto the final lap, Gathercole got out of shape on the second bend and locked up, allowing Chris Neath to close the gap. As they entered the final bend Gathercole still had the race in his grasp, but once again he locked up on the slick surface, and this time Neath took full advantage, and stormed through on the inside to snatch a share of the points. 

The last time Somerset were here, Steve Johnston was having his first look at the track in his Premier League career, and things didn’t go well for him as he came away without a heat win, and a total of only 6-points.
In his first ride of the night in Heat 4 he put one of those right at the first attempt as he was quickly away inside Linus Sundström, and moved him wide on the first turn, before cutting back to lead out of the bend from Andrew Silver. Silver had just got the better of a quick starting Justin Sedgmen at the turn and Sedgmen took up third in front of Sundström and thwarted the Swede’s early efforts to pass. Late in the race, Silver closed down on Johnston, coming with a great run to challenge on the outside of the final bends, Johnston moved wide, and Silver cut back inside but couldn’t find enough drive to fire him to the front, as Johno held on by nearly half a length.
At the same time Sundström finally found a way round Sedgmen, and agonisingly for the young Rebel he was just pipped in the run to the line. 

Heat 5 saw the field break fairly level, with Sundström, Neath and Kramer all entering the first turn together. Despite a great run around the outside Emil Kramer just failed to come over the top of the two Rockets. As they ran to the end of the lap Kramer cut back, challenging Sundström on the inside of the final bend, but once again his fellow countryman repelled him, to give the Rockets a 5-1. 

In Heat 6 the field broke together, but it was Jason Lyons who got to the bend first, just in front of Steve Johnston. Tom Brown ran Tommy Allen wide at the first turn. Allen recovered quickly and pulled inside Brown on the back straight, before repaying the compliment and running him wide on the third and fourth bends, Brown spun out, but remained upright. Meanwhile Johnston set off after Lyons, but could never get back in a challenging position. 

For the first time in this leg the Rebels took the opportunity to use the new tactical gate choice rule, and nominate the use of Gates 1 and 2 in Heat 7. Eventually the heat was shared but only after three attempts to get it started, and without Linus Sundström, who careered through the tapes at the initial start. As the tapes rose and Sundström destroyed them he set Cory Gathercole off.  Gathercole looped his bike, and ended in a heap on the floor, with a very bent machine a few feet away.
The referee allowed the Rebels man extra time for it to be repaired. When the race restarted the Rockets gated on a 5-1, with Andrew Silver, who had replaced Sundström, leading the way. Silver reached the final bend in front, but was caught out by the track conditions and spun out and fell. Jay Herne, who was following on the same line, quickly laid down the bike to avoid contact with the prostrate Silver. The Rockets reserve was excluded from the re-run. 

In the next restart Gathercole made a fast start to lead off the first turn from Luke Bowen. The Rebels looked likely to take their first heat advantage as Gathercole continued in the lead. As he approached the second bend of the penultimate lap, he too was caught out, and lost control, letting Bowen close the gap, and pass down the back straight, and take a share of the points. 
The Rockets immediately increased their lead again, cutting the Rebels overall advantage to just 2-points.
Tommy Allen and Andrew Silver led from the gate, and apart from a brief challenge from Simon Walker on the back straight they took Heat 8 with an easy 5-1. 

Steve Johnston made a superb cut between the two Rockets on the first bend of Heat 9, only for Tom Brown to fall behind him, when he also cut inside Luke Bowen, only for the Rockets man to tighten him up in the second bend, causing the fall.
It would have been a tight decision to exclude either rider, but in the end Chris Gay put all four back, which was slightly surprising as the incident happened as the riders were almost exiting the second bend. In the re-run Johno repeated the pass on Chris Neath, as Bowen tried to move the fast starting Tom Brown wide, before eventually passing him on the second bend. Johnston rode some great lines to hold off a rampant Neath to the end. 

Cory Gathercole made the best of a level break in Heat 10 to take up the running at the first turn, and lead until he made a mistake, and locked up on the final bend of the lap. Tommy Allen took advantage of the error, and grabbed the lead. Jason Lyons took up the challenge, and took his chance on the second bend of Lap 2. Gathercole got back on track, and chased down Lyons, but in the end he could not regain his place, as the Rockets took another maximum, putting the Rebels behind on aggregate for the first time. 

The next two heats both went to the home side, as they pushed the Rebels further behind on aggregate. Linus Sundström took the race, after leading from Simon Walker, but most of the action took place behind the leading pair. Emil Kramer made a good start, and cut inside Luke Bowen on the first turn. Bowen chased Kramer down the back straight, and as they came to the final bend of the lap, Bowen dived under Kramer, and barged him out of the way in an extremely hard move that took the Swede out of his stride. Kramer set off after Bowen, and was all over him for most of the remaining laps, but in the end he could not find a path around the Harlow born rider.
At the front Simon Walker rode a good race, but again could not find the drive to close down Sundström enough to put in a full challenge. 

There was lots of movement at the start of Heat 12, but the referee let them go despite it being one of the untidiest starts seen for a long time. If this wasn’t an unsatisfactory start then nothing is. Once let lose the Rocket pair led from the gate, and easily held the Rebels pair to take a maximum advantage, and put the Rebels 8-points behind on aggregate. 

In Heat 13 the Rebels again used the tactical gate rule, and for a second time chose to ride from gates 1 and 2. This time the ploy worked perfectly, as Steve Johnston made a good start inside the Rockets pair.
Holding his line to the bend he moved his opponents wide, allowing a large gap for Emil Kramer to drive through, before cutting back to join him in the lead. Once the Rebels were at the head of affairs they ran out relatively easy winners with Johnston taking the flag first. 
With the Rockets advantage cut to 4-points the Rebels needed to take two 4-2 advantages to get at least a tie. If one of those advantages were converted to a 5-1 the Rebels would go through in dramatic circumstance for the second time in consecutive rounds.  
Cory Gathercole and Tom Brown were the two riders who had to contest the first of the vital heats. The very least that was required to give the Rebels a chance to salvage the tie was a 3-3, which would leave them needing a full house in the last heat to take an aggregate draw. As the tapes rose Gathercole broke level with Jason Lyons, but it was the more experienced Victorian who hit the front at the opening bend.
Behind them Luke Bowen got the better of Brown on the second turn, and set off after Gathercole. Gathercole was holding second place easily, when he was caught out, not for the first time, and pulled a huge lift on the second bend exit, leaving Bowen with an easy pass.
The Rockets took a 5-1, which gave them the passage into the next round, but the drama wasn’t over, as the result was put on hold, as the Rebels team manager put in a protest. It appeared that Bowen’s chain guard had fallen of at the start, and he had completed the race without it. After deliberating Chris Gay threw out the protest, saying that he had no evidence to confirm the accusations, despite the start marshal standing on the start line, waving the offending article in the air, directly in front of Gay. 

The final heat was something of an anti-climax, but for the record it went to the Rebels 4-2. Steve Johnston and Chris Neath made a good start, with Johnston leading off the first turn. Neath moved wide on the first bend giving Cory Gathercole nowhere to go. Jason Lyons took up the chase on Johnston, but could never get in a blow.
Behind them Neath suffered an engine problem, leaving Gathercole to take third place. For the Rockets Chris Neath was a totally different rider from the one who had given such a lifeless display just 24 hours earlier, as he took a 13+1 haul. The Rockets guest Jason Lyons had contributed good points, and the remainder of the team, Tommy Allen and Luke Bowen in particular, had all given good performances. 
In the Rebels camp, Steve Johnston had given a true captains display, only dropping one point all night. Cory Gathercole had a difficult night compared to his last visit here, with the slick track conditions catching him out. He was not the only one to suffer with the conditions, as almost all of the team lost points at some time or another. If just 5 of those points had been converted to the Rebels it would have been Somerset going into the next round with ease, and not Rye House. 

The KO Cup will have a new name on it this year, and the Rebels will have to wait until next season to try again. So for now it’s back to the league, where their next opponents will be the Newcastle Diamonds, and after the previous Sunday’s fixture at Brough Park, the Rebels will be out for revenge. The match will also see the return to the Oak Tree Arena, of former Rebel, and fans favourite Jason King.

Report: Dave Thompson

Newcastle Diamonds
versus
Somerest 'Sharp' Rebels
PREMIER LEAGUE
7th June2009

NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS = 55
1. RIDER REPLACEMENT… TL, LC, JK, WL
2. William Lawson (Guest)… 3, 3, 3, 1, (3) = 13 pts
3. Jason King… 2*, 3, 3, (3), 3, 1* = 15+2
4. Trent Leverington... (1), 3, 2*, 1, 2, 2 = 11+1
5. Lee Complin (Guest)… 2, (2*), 1*, 2, 0 = 7+2
6. Adam McKinna… R, 2, FD, 1* = 3+1
7. Craig Branney… 3, 0, 2*, 1 = 6+1
Team Manager: Mr George English

SOMERSET REBELS = 37
1. Emil Kramer… 2, 1, 3, 1* = 7+1
2. RIDER REPLACEMENTS (Simon Walker)… JS, JS, CG, TB
3. Brendan Johnson… 1, 0, 0, N = 1pt
4. Cory Gathercole… 0, 3, (T0), 2, 3, 0 = 8 pts
5. Steve Johnston… 3, 0, T4, 2, 3 = 12 pts
6. Tom Brown… 2, 1, 0, 1, R = 4pts
7. Justin Sedgmen… (0), 1*, 1, (0), 1, 2, 0 = 5+1
Team Manager: Mr Ronnie Russell

SCB Referee: Mr Dave Dowling

HEAT RESULTS
Heat 1: Lawson, Kramer, Leverington, Sedgmen – 4-2
Comments: Leverington is Diamonds R/R & Sedgmen is Rebels R/R
Heat 2: Branney, Brown, Sedgmen, McKinna (retired) – 3-3 – 7-5
Heat 3:  Leverington, King, Johnson, Gathercole – 5-1 – 12-6 Heat 04: Johnston, Complin, Sedgmen, Branney – 2-4 – 14-10
Heat 5: King, Leverington, Kramer, Sedgmen – 5-1 – 19-11
Comments: Sedgmen is Rebels R/R
Heat 6:  Lawson, Complin, Brown, Johnston – 5-1 – 24-12
Comments: Complin is Diamonds R/R
Heat 7: Gathercole, McKinna, Complin, Johnson – 3-3 – 27-15
Heat 8: Lawson, Branney, Sedgmen, GATHERCOLE – 5-1 – 32-16
Comments: Gathercole is Rebels R/R and takes a TR.
Heat 9: King, JOHNSTON, Leverington, Brown – 4-4 – 36-20
Comments: Johnston takes TR.
Heat 10: King, Gathercole, Lawson, Johnson – 4-2 – 40-22
Comments: King is Diamonds R/R
Heat 11: Kramer, Complin, Brown, McKinna (fell and disqualified) – 2-4 – 42-26
Comments: Brown is Rebels R/R.
Heat 12:  RE-RUN. King, Sedgmen, Branney, Brown (retired) – 4-2 – 46-28
Comments: Sedgmen replaces Johnson
Heat 13: Lawson, Johnston, Kramer, Complin – 3-3 – 49-31
Comments: Lawson is Diamonds R/R
Heat 14: Gathercole, Leverington, McKinna, Sedgmen – 3-3 – 52-34
Heat 15: Johnston, Leverington, King, Gathercole – 3-3 – 55-37
Line up – R = LEVERINGTON; B = KING; G = GATHERCOLE; Y = JOHNSTON

RACE REPORT: IAN BELCHER

After their heroics of the previous two evenings at Scunthorpe and Workington, a third ‘road’ meeting in as many days was probably a match too far for Somerset as they succumbed to this heavy defeat against Newcastle on Sunday evening.

In truth, the Rebels were never really in the match mainly due to them letting good positions slip away, handing points to the Diamonds, which that could ill-afford to do if they were to take anything away from this match.

Already eight points in arrears after the first five heats, perhaps the Rebels knew that it wasn’t going to be their night when skipper Steve Johnston fell in heat 6 when challenging Newcastle guest, William Lawson, on the final turn, the lost two points here adding to a dropped point when Justin Sedgmen got caught on the line for second place by the fast finishing Lee Complin two races earlier.

Twelve points down going into heat 8 even Somerset’s double point tactical move failed to pay any dividends as Cory Gathercole’s bike struggled away from the start, and although Johnston stopped the rot somewhat in picking up four points for a tactical ride second place in heat 9, Newcastle were almost home and dry.

Although Somerset staged a remarkable fight-back the previous evening at Workington to earn themselves a point, a repeat performance against the Diamonds was never really on the cards, the Rebels only real consolation being that they managed to hold Newcastle in the latter stages of the meeting to avoid a heavier margin of defeat.

Workington 'Thomas Armstrong' Comets
versus
Somerest 'Sharp' Rebels
PREMIER LEAGUE
6th June2009

WORKINGTON COMETS = 50
1. Kevin Doolan… 3, 2, 3, 2' = 10+1
2. John Branney R/R
3. Adrian Rymel… 3, 3, 1' ,3 ,0 = 10+1
4. Richard Lawson… 2', 1, 3, 2, 1 = 9+1
5. Andre Compton… 2, 3, 3, 3, 1 = 12
6. Craig Cook… 2', 2, 1', 0, 0, 0 = 5+2
7. Paul Cooper… E, 1', 1', 2', R, 0 = 4+1

TEAM MANAGER: Mr Ian Thomas

SOMERSET REBELS = 45
1. Emil Kramer…1, 0, 2, 1 = 4
2. Simon Walker R/R
3. Jay Herne… 0, 0, 1', 1', 2 = 4+2
4. Cory Gathercole…1, 2, 1, E, T4, 3 = 11
5. Steve Johnston…3, T6, 3, 0, 2' = 14+1
6. Tom Brown…0, 0, 0, 1 = 1
7. Justin Sedgmen… 3, 0, 2, 0, 2, 1', 3 = 11+1

TEAM MANAGER: Mr Ronnie Russell
SCB Referee: Mr Tony Steele

Heat Results

Heat 01: Doolan, Cook, Kramer, Herne. 5-1
Comments: Workington - Cooper R/R. Somerset - Herne R/R. Cooper touched the tapes and is disqualified - Cook replaces him.

Heat 02: Sedgmen, Cook, Cooper, Brown. 3-3. 8-4. 

Heat 03: Rymel, Lawson, Gathercole, Herne - 5-1 - 13-5

Heat 04: Johnston, Compton, Cooper, Sedgmen. 3-3. 16-8. 

Heat 05: Rymel, Sedgmen, Lawson, Kramer. 4-2. 20-10.
Comments: Sedgmen is R/R.

Heat 06: JOHNSTON, Doolan, Cook, Brown. 3-6. 23-16. 
Comments: Johnston T/R. Cook R/R. 

Heat 07: Compton, Gathercole, Herne, Cook. 3-3. 26-19. 

Heat 08: Lawson, Cooper, Gathercole, Sedgmen. 5-1. 31-20..
Comments: Lawson is Comets R/R & Gathercole is Rebels R/R. 

Heat 09: Johnston, Lawson, Rymel, Brown. 3-3. 34-23. 

Heat 10: Doolan, Sedgmen, Herne, Cooper. 3-3. 37-26. 
Comments: Cooper is R/R. Gathercole disqualified for touching the tapes. Sedgmen replaces him. 

Heat 11: Compton, Kramer, Sedgmen, Cook. 3-3. 40-29. 
Comments: Sedgmen is R/R. 

Heat 12: Rymel, Herne, Brown, Cooper. 3-3. 43-32. 

Heat 13: Compton, Doolan, Kramer. Johnston. 5-1. 48-33. 

Heat 14: Sedgmen, GATHERCOLE, Lawson, Cook. 1-7. 49-40. 
Comments: Gathercole takes T/R. 

Heat 15: Gathercole, Johnston, Compton, Rymel. 1-5. 50-45. 
Line-up: Compton, Rymel, Gathercole, Johnston 

RACE REPORT: IAN BELCHER
Workington’s team manager Ian Thomas is a magician of some repute and a member of the Magic Circle, but it was his Somerset counterpart, Ronnie Russell, who pulled the rabbit out of the hat as far as this match was concerned. The Rebels looked dead and buried when a Comets 5-1 in heat 13 left them 15 points adrift of their host with just two heats remaining, but somehow they conjured up a final two heats that left the Derwent Park crowd shell-shocked as Somerset closed to within 5 points at the finish to take a vital point from this meeting, a point that looked a forlorn hope for the vast majority of the match.

Getting out the starts first tends to be of paramount importance at Derwent Park, and it was an area that the Rebels found themselves decidedly lacking in the early heats, as right from the opening race Kevin Doolan and Craig Cook, in as replacement for Workington guest, Paul Cooper, who was excluded for a tapes infringement, shot from the tapes leaving Somerset’s Emil Kramer and Jay Herne trailing in their wake.

With Kramer suffering from a back injury sustained the previous evening in Somerset’s match at Scunthorpe and looking ill at ease, the omens did not look good for the Rebels, but their young Aussie recruit, Justin Sedgmen, gave them some cheer in heat 2 with an impressive victory on a track he had never seen, let alone ridden, before.

Workington soon doubled their lead, with the Comets duo of Rymel and Lawson again showing better reactions from the gate in heat 3, and although Cory Gathercole was soon challenging Lawson for third place, he found the door firmly shut on him as he tried to make a move on his opposite number as they headed down the back straight.

While Somerset skipper, Steve Johnston, won heat 4, it was only to provide the Rebels with a share of the spoils to still leave them eight points in arrears, which was increased to ten points just a heat later with Rymel taking his second win of the night.

At least Somerset had the consolation of having Johnston out again in heat 6 and they wasted no time in sending him out on a double point tactical ride in an attempt to stem the tide of points flowing the way of the Comets. Johnston did not disappoint and took the win with relative ease, but with his race partner, Tom Brown, unable to make an impression at the back, the tactical move was only a partial success, though it did bring the Rebels back to within seven points of the home side.

After a shared heat 7, a third Comets maximum race win of the night in heat 8 stretched their lead out to 11 points, and things were starting to look decidedly grim for the Rebels.

With the points being shared in each of the following four heats, it did at least give Somerset some hope, albeit slim, of taking something from this match, but those hopes were given a massive knock in heat 13 when Doolan and Compton hit the Rebels with the Comets fourth 5-1 heat advantage of the match, the hitherto unbeaten Johnston never able to get into the race once Compton had ridden him wide into the first turn.

Fifteen points to the good and with just two heats remaining, the Comets must have felt that all three Premier League points would be heading their way, but they reckoned without the Rebels fighting spirit. Heat 14 saw Cory Gathercole out for the Rebels second double point tactical ride of the night, and the moved looked to have worked a treat as Justin Sedgmen got the lead from the tapes, Gathercole moving through into second place behind his team-mate.

To maximise the tactical move, Somerset needed Gathercole to finish in front of Sedgmen, but as the race unfolded Sedgmen showed no signs of slowing to allow his partner through into the lead and he duly crossed the line to win with a somewhat bemused Gathercole finishing second.

Although the resultant 7-1 race win to Somerset still gave them a chance of finishing within six points of the Comets and take a league point away with them, but only a 5-1 heat win for the Rebels in the last race of the night would be good enough for them to achieve this, surely even this was beyond them?

As the tapes rose, it was Gathercole that made it into the first bend in the lead, but crucially for the Rebels, Johnston had come between the Workington duo of Rymel and Compton into second place.

After first seeing off the challenge of Rymel, Johnston rode a true captain’s race to thwart everything that Compton could throw at him and suddenly Derwent Park went eerily quite, save for the cheers of the small band of Somerset fans who had made the long trip to Cumbria, as first Gathercole and then Johnson crossed the line to give Somerset that all important 5-1 heat win, and to literally snatch a league point from under the Comets' noses.

Make no mistake, this was a performance that showed the true grit and determination that has been forged in the Rebel camp, never accepting that any cause is a lost one, Justin Sedgmen typifying the Somerset spirit, stepping up to the plate with his best away performance to date for the Rebels at a time when Emil Kramer was not able to perform to his usual high standard to the injury he was carrying, and providing valuable support to Johnston and Gathercole as the Rebels continue their steady progress up the Premier League table.

Scunthorpe ‘HENDERSON INSURANCE’ Scorpions
versus
Somerset ‘SHARP’ Rebels

Premier League
5th June 2009

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS = 47
1. Magnus Karlsson (8.44)… 3, 2, 3, 1, 3 = 12pts
2. Viktor Bergstrom (5.02)… 0, 1*, 2, 2* = 5+2
3. Simon Lambert (4.30)… 3, 2, 2, 0 = 7pts
4. Carl Wilkinson (6.13)… FD, 1*, 1*, 1 = 3+2
5. David Howe (8.17)… 3, 3, 2, 0, 2* = 10+1
6. Byron Bekker (3.00)… 1*, 0, 1* = 2+2
7. Jerran Hart (3.70)… 2, 1, 0, 2, 3 = 8pts
Team Manager: Mr Kenny Smith

SOMERSET REBELS = 43
1. Emil Kramer (8.68)… 2, 3, 3, 3, 1 = 12pts
2. RIDER REPLACEMENT (Simon Walker)… JH, TB, CG, JS
3. Jay Herne (3.60)… (1*), 2, 1*, 0, 3 = 6+1
4. Cory Gathercole (7.68)… 1*, 2, (3), 1, 2 = 9+1
5. Steve Johnston (8.57)… 2, 3, 3, 2*, 0 = 10+1
6. Tom Brown (3.14)… 3, (0), 0, 0, 1 = 4pts
7. Justin Sedgmen (3.53)… 0, 0, 1, (0), 0 = 1pt
Team Manager: Mr Ronnie Russell

SCB Referee: Mr Mick Bates

HEAT RESULTS:

Heat 01: RE-RUN Karlsson, Kramer, Herne, Bergstrom – 3-3
Heat 02: Brown, Hart, Bekker, Sedgmen – 3-3 – 6-6
Heat 03: RE-RUN Lambert, Herne, Gathercole Wilkinson (fell and disq.) – 3-3 – 9-9
Heat 04: Howe, Johnston, Hart, Sedgmen – 4-2 – 13-11
Heat 05: Kramer, Lambert, Wilkinson, Brown – 3-3 – 16-14
Heat 06: Johnston, Karlsson, Bergstrom, Brown – 3-3 – 19-17
Heat 07: Howe, Gathercole, Herne, Bekker – 3-3 – 22-20
Heat 08: Gathercole, Bergstrom, Sedgmen, Hart – 2-4 – 24-24
Heat 09: Johnston, Lambert, Wilkinson, Brown – 3-3 – 27-27
Heat 10: Karlsson, Bergstrom, Gathercole, Herne – 5-1 – 32-28
Heat 11: Kramer, Howe, Bekker, Sedgmen – 3-3 – 35-31
Heat 12: Herne, Hart, Brown, Lambert – 2-4 – 37-35
Heat 13: Kramer, Johnston, Karlsson, Howe – 1-5- 38-40
Heat 14: Hart, Gathercole, Wilkinson, Sedgmen – 4-2 – 42-42
Heat 15: Karlsson, Howe, Kramer, Johnston – 5-1 – 47-43

Line Up – R = HOWE; B = KARLSSON; G = KRAMER; Y = JOHNSTON

RIDER REPLACEMENTS AND RACE COMMENTS
 
Heat 1 – YELLOW = HERNE takes R/R
Heat 3 – WILKINSON fell and disqualified
Heat 5 – YELLOW = BROWN takes R/R
Heat 8 – GREEN = GATHERCOLE takes R/R
Heat 11 – YELLOW = SEDGMEN takes R/R

RACE REPORT:
In their last visit to the Eddie Wright Raceway, the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels were eventually unlucky to come away without a point. In that Premier Trophy encounter it was the Rebels performance over the opening three heats that was to prove their undoing, but this time they kept it tight in the early exchanges, and in the end were unfortunate not to come away with more than just a single point.

The first three heats were shared, with the Scorpions supplying two winners to the Rebels one. In Heat 1 Magnus Karlsson, made the best of a re-start to lead all the way from Emil Kramer, and Jay Herne, who had fallen in the original start, causing the re-run.

The Rebels took Heat 2 with Tom Brown coming from behind to pass Byron Bekker at the start of the second lap to share the points. Bekker gave up his second place to his team mate, Jerran Hart, on the next lap, and had to fend of the close attentions of Justin Sedgmen for third spot.

Heat 3 was also re-run after Carl Wilkinson fell, and was excluded, trying to get around Jay Herne on the second lap. In the second running, Simon Lambert led, before Cory Gathercole passed him on the second lap. The whole field were fairly close, until Gathercole fell on the penultimate bend of the final lap, gifting the race to Lambert. He remounted to take a share of the points.

The Scorpions took a slender 2-point lead in Heat 4, and the following three heats were shared, before the Rebels levelled the scores at the halfway point in the match. Steve Johnston made a great start in Heat 4 to lead away. He held his advantage right to the line, before David Howe put in a storming finish to grab the win in the shadows of the chequered flag. Jerran Hart took third place to take the first advantage of the match.

The Scorpions looked to have increased the lead when Simon Lambert led Heat 5 from Emil Kramer.  Carl Wilkinson took third place on the fourth bend to put the home side on a 4-2. Kramer plugged away at Lambert and took up the running on the second last bend of the race to share the points. Steve Johnston led all the way in Heat 6, with the Scorpions pair filling the minor places, and Tom Brown never being able to get in a blow.

Jay Herne challenged David Howe for the lead of Heat 7, until Howe eased into a lead on the third bend. Cory Gathercole took second from Herne, when the latter went wide on the final bend of lap 3. Byron Bekker never got in a blow at the rear of the field. The Rebels brought the match level in Heat 8, with Cory Gathercole taking the win after he had come from second to first, passing the fast starting Viktor Bergstrom on the final bend of the opening lap. Justin Sedgmen accounted for Jerran Hart to give the Rebels the heat advantage.

Another share heat followed as Steve Johnston battled side by side with Simon Lambert over the opening two laps of Heat 9, before he edged into the lead starting Lap 3. The Rebels might have had another heat advantage, but Carl Wilkinson was in no mood to allow that, as he denied Tom Brown third place on the second lap.

In Heat 10 the Rebels chances of taking points from the tie were dealt a crushing blow, as the Scorpions hammered in a 5-1 to move 4-points clear. The home riders fired out of the gate to lead, but had Cory Gathercole all over them for four laps trying to negotiate a path to the front, but to no avail.

Emil Kramer produced a fine inside pass on David Howe on the second bend of Lap 2, after failing to take Howe on the outside at the end of the opening lap of Heat 11. Byron Bekker took third place to share the heat. Jay Herne led from the tapes of Heat 12 to take the win, but the Rebels were denied a 5-1 when Jerran Hart took second place from Tom Brown on the third lap, after a stalking him for the whole of the previous lap.

The Rebels led for the first time in Heat 13, as Kramer and Johnston rocketed from the gate to lead all the way. Viktor Bergstrom ran the pair down, after Howe had tried but failed to do the same. However in the final analysis he had no answer to the Rebels early pace.

The visitors lead was short lived as the Scorpions took a 4-2 advantage in Heat 14 to tie up the scores, and set up a tense last heat decider, whatever the outcome the worse that the Rebels could achieve was to take a single point, but a further two points were still within their grasp.

As it turned out the home side took the match 47-43, as Magnus Karlsson flew from the tapes to lead all the way from the second bend. David Howe was all out to hold off Emil Kramer as the pair battled to the second bend, with former Wolverhampton rider holding a slight advantage from there on. It had been oh so close to a dream start to the Rebels Northern tour, and they had shown once more that they are far from the ‘also rans’ that many of the speedway scribes had predicted. Despite not taking more points from this encounter, it was still a great start to the tour, and on this performance the one point gained would surely not be the last.

 Glasgow ‘A-PLANT’ Tigers
versus
Somerset ‘SHARP’ Rebels

 Premier League KNOCK-OUT CUP – 2^nd Leg

GLASGOW TIGERS = 46 (89) on Aggregate
1. Shane Parker (9.01)… 1*, 2, 3, 2, 3 = 11+1
2. RIDER REPLACEMENT (Ross Brady)… MD, LS, JG, MD
3. Robin Tornqvist (7.00)… 0, 1*, 0, 0 = 1*
4. Josh Grajczonek (5.25)… 3, 2, (0), 1, 0 = 6
5. James Grieves (8.63)… 3, 3, 3, 1*, FD = 10+1
6. Mitchell Davey (3.00)… (2), 0, 2*, (0), N, N = 4+1
7. Lee Smart (8.66)… 3, 1, 1*, (3), (1), 3, (1) = 13+1
8. Adam McKinna…

Team Manager: Mr Stewart Dickson 

SOMERSET REBELS = 44 (90) on Aggregate
1. Emil Kramer (8.59)… 3, 3, 2, 0, XO = 8
2. Justin Sedgmen (5.00)… 0, R, 2, 0 = 2
3. Simon Walker (6.51)… 2, 0, 2, 2 = 6
4. Cory Gathercole (7.52)… 1*, 1, 1*, 3 = 6+2
5. Steve Johnston (8.48)… 2, 3, 2*, 3, 2 = 12+2
6. Tom Brown (3.00)… 2, 0, (1*), 3, 1* = 7+2
7. Jay Herne (3.48)… 1*, 0, N2, 2* = 2+2

Team Manager: Mr Ronnie Russell

SCB Referee: Mr Jim McGregor

HEAT RESULTS:

Heat 01: Kramer, Davey, Parker, Sedgmen – 3-3
Heat 02: Smart, Brown, Herne, Davey – 3-3 – 6-6
Heat 03: Grajczonek, Walker, Gathercole, Tornqvist – 3-3 – 9-9
Heat 04: Grieves, Johnston, Smart, Herne – 4-2 – 13-11
Heat 05: Kramer, Grajczonek, Tornqvist, Sedgmen (Retired) – 3-3 – 16-14
Heat 06: Johnston, Parker, Smart, Brown – 3-3 – 19-17
Heat 07: Grieves, Davey, Gathercole, Walker – 5-1 – 24-18
Heat 08: (re-run) Smart, Sedgmen, Brown, Grajczonek, (Herne disq.) – 3-3 – 27-21
Heat 09: Brown, Johnston, Grajczonek, Tornqvist – 1-5 – 28 - 26
Heat 10: Parker, Walker, Gathercole, Davey – 3-3 – 31-29
Heat 11: Grieves, Kramer, Smart, Sedgmen – 4-2 – 35-31
Heat 12: Smart, Walker, Brown, Tornqvist – 3-3 – 38-34
Heat 13: Johnston, Parker, Grieves, Kramer – 3-3 – 41 - 37
Heat 14: Gathercole, Herne, Smart, Grajczonek – 1-5 – 42-42
Heat 15: (re-run x2) Parker, Johnston, GRIEVES (fell disq.) KRAMER (disq. Other reasons not considered dangerous riding – 3-2 – 45-44

Re-run 1 - Kramer's bike packed in at the start.  He will now go off 15m.
Re-run 2 - Kramer's bike packed in again and Kramer is now disqualified.

GLASGOW v SOMERSET
PREMIER LEAGUE KOC

RACE REPORT: DAVE THOMPSON

On Sunday the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels travelled to Glasgow for the second leg of their opening fixture in this seasons KO Cup competition, taking with them a slender 2-point lead. In the last couple of years the Rebels have enjoyed some success at the Ashfield circuit, but on this occasion the only winner was the weather, with the meeting being abandoned after just seven heats.

Following a week of rain in the area the day dawned with more of the same, and it looked for a time that the meeting may not get underway at all, until the rain relented, and the sun finally made an appearance a few hours before tapes up time. Despite the sunshine, which was accompanied by a fair degree of angry looking clouds, the forecast was for a few showers. By the time the riders were due on track the Glasgow track staff had produced a track that looked in magnificent condition, and their hard work was rewarded very early in the piece.

The advantage from what racing did take place went firmly to the Glasgow ‘A-Plant’ Tigers, who provided five of the seven heat winners. Shane Parker showed just what a good job the track staff had done, by scorching round the Hawthorn Road venue, and equalling his own track record of 57.1 sec, with the Rebels filling the places to share the heat.

The Rebels did share two more heats, but they couldn’t stop the Tigers from taking a 28-14 lead. By the time the weather intervened, the Tigers had added a 4-2, and three 5-1 advantages to pull out the lead. The Rebels did provide a couple of heats winners in Emil Kramer and Steve Johnston, who took Heats 3 and 5 respectively. Kramer bolted from the gate to lead all the way on a track were he has always enjoyed a lot of success, and won with something in hand, despite the attentions of Glasgow’s up and coming star, Josh Grajczonek. Johno, not renowned for his gating, also lead from the tapes to storm clear of the field, and like Kramer before him account for the young Queenslander.

Cory Gathercole had a nightmare couple of rides, as he broke the tapes in his first ride, and was not allowed to go of 15-metres, as the rules for the KO Cup state that all tapes and time exclusions can only be covered by a reserve. In his second ride he was holding a comfortable second position behind Shane Parker when he appeared to pick up a little drive on the very final turn of the race, which straightened him up, and sent him wide, and into the safety fence. He was catapulted over the handlebars, and took a heavy looking fall. He was soon up, and walked back to the pits unaided.

Tom Brown was not so lucky, as he went into the third bend too hot, in his first ride in Heat 2. The result of the flying entry into the bend was almost inevitable, as he slid off, and took a very hard fall, ending up slumped against the fence, and looked in a bad way. After some time being attended by the medical staff he rose to his feet, only to go down almost immediately, with what appeared to be some discomfort in his ankle or leg. He eventually returned to the pits in the ambulance, but it turned out that, thankfully, he was no worse for his fall, and he took two more rides before the meeting was called to a halt.

The end came as a large very black looking cloud approached the stadium, unseen by the majority of fans gathered in the home straight. It started with just a gentle shower that looked as though it might pass, but soon developed into a downpour of monsoon proportions, accompanied by hailstones. It didn’t take long for the track to start to show the effects of the rain, and after a week of the same it soon resembled a lake on some of the corners, and with no end to the rain in immediate sight, Christina Turnbull had no choice but to bring a halt to the proceedings.

The irony was that not five minutes from the track, the roads were as dry as a bone, and an hour or so after the rain had stopped the stadium was bathed in sunshine, without a cloud in the sky. The leg will now be re-run at a later date, which at the moment has not been fixed.

Newport Wasps

v

Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels
3rd May 2009

Newport Wasps = 46

1. M Lemon – 3, 2 *, 2, 2, 1, 3 = 13+1

2. C Kerr - Rider Replacement

3. J Haines [g] – 2, 2, X, 0, 3 = 7

4. P Fry - 2 *, 0, 1 *, 2, 3, 0 = 8+2

5. B Werner – 3, 3, 3, 0, 0 = 9

6. K Newman - 2 *, 0, 2, 0 = 4+1

7. J Holder – 3, 0, 0, 2 * = 5+1

Somerset Rebels = 46

1. S Johnston – 1, 3, 1, 2 * = 7+1

2. S Walker - Rider Replacement

3. J Sedgmen – 1, 1 *, 3, 1, R = 6+1

4. E Kramer – 3, 4^, 3, 2, 2 = 14

5. C Gathercole – 2, 1, 3, 3, 3, 1 * = 13+1

6. J Herne – 1, 0, 0, 1, 1 * = 3+1

7. T Brown – 0, 0, 1 *, 1, 1 = 3+1

SCB Referee: Margaret Vardy

Heat Details

Heat 01: Lemon, Fry, Johnston, Brown (5-1) (5-1) 58.88

Heat 02: Holder, Newman, Herne, Brown (5-1) (10-2) 59.74

Heat 03: Kramer, Haines, Sedgmen, Fry (flrmnt) (2-4) (12-6) 58.86

Heat 04: Werner, Gathercole, Brown, Holder (3-3) (15-9) 60.09

Heat 05: Johnston, Haines, Fry, Herne (3-3) (18-12) 59.51

Heat 06: Werner, Lemon, Gathercole, Herne (5-1) (23-13) 59.71

Heat 07: Werner, Kramer^, Sedgmen, Newman (3-5) (26-18) 59.97

Heat 08: Sedgmen, Lemon, Brown, Holder (2-4) (28-22) 58.93

Heat 09: (re-run) Gathercole, Fry, Herne, Haines (fl exl) (2-4) (30-26) 59.41

Heat 10: Kramer, Lemon, Sedgmen, Haines (2-4) (32-30) 59.31

Heat 11: Gathercole, Newman, Johnston, Werner (2-4) (34-34) 58.75

Heat 12: Haines, Holder, Sedgmen, Brown (ret) (5-1) (39-35) 60.03

Heat 13: Gathercole, Johnston, Lemon, Werner (1-5) (40-40) 59.59

Heat 14: (re-run) Fry, Kramer, Herne, Newman (3-3) (43-43) 61.01

Heat 15: Lemon, Kramer, Gathercole, Fry (3-3) (46-46) 59.45

The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels took two points away with them from this Premier Trophy clash with Newport to stay in contention for a semi-final berth, but it could have been so much more.

On a track where gating was the key, with it giving very little opportunity for over-taking, Somerset found themselves 8 points down after just two heats, Newport adapting the slick conditions far better than the Rebels, effectively winning the races from the gate.

The rot was stopped somewhat in heat 3 when Emil Kramer took the heat win, but with ex-Rebel Paul Fry coming to grief on the second turn of lap 2, it handed third place to Somerset’s Justin Sedgmen which cut the deficit to 6 points.

Somerset’s Cory Gathercole found himself forced wide into the first turn of heat 4, and it looked at that stage as if Newport were to record their third maximum heat win of the afternoon as Werner and Holder occupied the first two places down the back straight.  But in one of the rare pieces of overtaking seen all afternoon, Gathercole wound on the power and swept from 4^th to 2^nd place round the pits turn and with Holder lifting badly just as Gathercole came past, it allowed Tom Brown through into third place and a share of the points.

Two heats later, however, and Newport had extended their lead to 10 points, Werner and Lemon making the gate and this time Gathercole was given no opportunity to mount a challenge on the home duo.

Somerset team manager, Ronnie Russell, wasted no time in sending out Emil Kramer for a ‘black and white’ double point tactical ride in heat 7, but although he had to give second best to Werner, with Justin Sedgmen following home his team-mate in third place, the move was a partial success with Somerset cutting the Newport lead to 8 points.

Although meetings are won and lost over the full 15 heats, there are quite often defining moments in a match and heat 8 was to be one of those moments.  With Newport bringing in their number 1, Mark Lemon for his rider replacement ride to partner James Holder, they must have held high hopes of further extending their lead with them up against the relatively inexperienced Somerset pairing of Justin Sedgmen and Tom Brown

As it was, Sedgmen made a lightening start and never gave Lemon the opportunity to mount a challenge to take a vital heat win for the visitors which was further enhanced with Tom Brown holding off Holder for third place, and suddenly the momentum had started to shift to the Somerset side of the pits.

The next three heats all brought further 4-2 heat advantages to the Rebels, with the result that from being 10 points in arrears after heat six, just five heats later Somerset had brought themselves level with the scores standing at 34 all.

The Newport fans must have then thought that their side had struck the telling blow when guest Joe Haines and James Holder took a maximum 5-1 race win in heat 12, but the Rebels immediately hit back, Gathercole and Johnston replying in kind just a heat later.

Two heats to go and the scores level, heat 14 was to prove crucial to the final outcome.  In the first attempt to run it, Fry came to grief on the first turn, but with the Somerset duo of Kramer and Herne seemingly on their way to a 5-1, referee Margaret Vardy called a halt to proceedings and ordered a re-run with all four riders.

At the second time of asking, Kramer and Herne once again got themselves to the front, Kramer trying to shepherd his young team-mate ahead of the omnipresent Fry.  As the three of them came off the 4^th turn on lap 2, Fry saw his chance as Herne left the smallest of gaps on the outside, and before he could close the door, Fry was through and into the lead, to keep the match scores level.

And so it was that the two sides came to the tapes for the fifteenth and final heat all level, Lemon and Fry carrying the hopes of the home supporters with Kramer and Gathercole providing the opposition.

As it was, the race was, like many before it, an anti-climax, as the start proved to be all important, and it was Lemon who made it to the first bend in the lead, neither Kramer nor Gathercole able to make a serious challenge on the Newport skipper.

In the final analysis, a draw was perhaps a fair result, though both teams will have felt that they could have won with Newport perhaps disappointed that they let their ten point lead slip and Somerset ruing their poor start to the match, but as it was, the Rebels collect two valuable away points in their quest for a place in the semi-finals of this year’s Premier Trophy.

Report courtesy Ian Belcher

Birmingham Brummies - 47

J Lyons - 1*, 3, 1*, 1*  = 6+3

R Sweetman – 2, 1, 3, 2  = 8

R Ksiezak – 3, 0, 3, 3, 2 - -11

L Lindgren - 2*, 2, 2*, exl  = 6+2

T Piszcz – 3, 3, flx, 2, flx,  = 8

B Taylor – 1, 0, 1, 3, 1, 2 -8

D Halsey – flx, ret,  = 0

Somerset Rebels - 43

S Johnston – 3, 3, 2, 3, 3  = 14

J Sedgmen – 0, 1, 2, 1*  = 4+1

S Walker – 0, 1*, 0, 2  = 3+1

E Kramer – 1, 2, 3, 3, 1  = 10

C Gathercole – 2, 2, 1, 0  = 5

T Brown - 2*, 0, 0, flx  = 2+1

J Herne – 3, 1*, ret, 1  = 5+1

SCB Referee: Mick Posselwhite

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 01: Johnston, Sweetman, Lyons, Sedgmen (3-3) (3-3) 58.9

Heat 02: Herne, Brown, Taylor, Halsey (f.exc) (1-5) (4-8) 60.7

Heat 03: Ksiezak, Lindgren, Kramer, Walker (5-1) (9-9) 59.9

Heat 04: Piszcz, Gathercole, Herne, Halsey (ret) (3-3) (12-12) 60.9

Heat 05: Johnston, Lindgren, Sedgmen, Ksiezak (2-4) (14-16) 59.9

Heat 06: Lyons, Gathercole, Sweetman, Brown (4-2) (18-18) 59.3

Heat 07: Piszcz, Kramer, Walker, Taylor (3-3) (21-21) 60.2

Heat 08: Sweetman, Sedgmen, Taylor, Herne (ret) (4-2) (25-23) 59.3

Heat 09: Ksiezak, Lindgren, Gathercole, Brown (5-1) (30-24) 59.6

Heat 10: Kramer, Lyons, Sweetman, Walker (3-3) (33-27) 59.2

Heat 11: Taylor, Johnston, Sedgmen, Piszcz (f.exc) (3-3) (36-30) 60.5

Heat 12: Ksiezak, Walker, Taylor, Brown (f.exc) (4-2) (40-32) 61.0

Heat 13: Johnston, Piszcz, Lyons, Gathercole (3-3) (43-35) 59.4

Heat 14: Kramer, Taylor, Herne, Lindgren (f.exc) (2-4) (45-39) 61.6

Heat 15: Johnston, Ksiezak, Kramer, Piszcz (f.exc) (2-4) (47-43) 59.4

The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels came agonisingly close to break their ‘away day’ duck for 2009 in going down by just 4 points at Birmingham, though they did have the consolation of taking a point from this match courtesy of losing by less than 7 points, their first away point of the season.

Somerset have paid the price in their previous away matches of getting off to a slow start, but against the Brummies, the Rebels were there from the off, and after a drawn first heat that saw skipper Steve Johnston win with relative ease, it was the reserve pairing of Jay Herne and Tom Brown that gave Somerset the early advantage with a maximum 5-1 race win in heat 2.

It could be said that the Somerset duo were somewhat fortuitous as they looked initially to be a the receiving end of a 5-1, as the Birmingham reserves, Ben Taylor and debutant Daniel Halsey held a clear advantage over their Somerset counterparts, only for Halsey to fall on the second lap.

With the referee having little option but to stop the race and duly exclude Halsey from there-run, Herne and Brown made no mistake at the second time of asking to give Somerset an early four-point advantage.

Birmingham immediately hit back with a 5-1 of their own in heat 3, Ksiezak and Lindgren doing the damage from the tapes, never giving the Somerset partnership of Emil Kramer and Simon Walker any opportunity to mount a challenge.

The scores remained level after heat 4, Piszcz winning it comfortably enough for the home side, but with Gathercole and Herne picking up the minor placings, the spoils were shared.  Heat 4 was, however the last that Birmingham new boy, Daniel Halsey, would be seen on track, as not only pulled out of the race with little over 2 laps completed, but he was withdrawn from the meeting with back problems, a legacy of his fall two heats earlier.

The Rebels edged themselves into the lead once again in heat 5, Johnston making it two wins on the bounce, but with Sedgmen picking up third spot ahead of heat 3 winner Ksiezak, it gave Somerset a slender two point lead, 16-14, over their hosts.

Yet again, Birmingham immediately hit back to level the scores, Lyons doing enough to head home Somerset’s Gathercole, with Sweetman picking up the point for third place over Tom Brown, the two sides were locked together at 18 points a-piece.

A further heat later, and still nothing could separate the two sides, Birmingham’s Piszcz following Johnston’s example for Somerset and making it two wins out of two, but once again Somerset riders, on this occasion it being Kramer and Walker, filled the minor places for the third shared heat of the night.

With the match reaching its half-way stage, and nothing between the two sides, it was Birmingham that made the telling moves that went a long way to deciding the outcome of this match, a 4-2 heat advantage by Sweetman and Taylor over Sedgmen and Herne only begins to tell the tale of heat 8.

Firstly, as the tapes rose, only three of the four riders, headed into the first turn, Somerset’s Herne being stranded at the tapes with mechanical gremlins.  With Sedgmen making a lightening start however, it looked as if his team-mate’s demise might not be too costly, but gradually Sweetman began to reel in his opposite number, until he made the inevitable pass on Sedgmen as the pair started the final lap.

The resultant 4-2 heat advantage put the Brummies into the lead for the first time in the match, a lead that they were to extend to 6 points a race later as Ksiezak and Lindgren combined for their second maximum heat win of the match.

Emil Kramer kept the Rebels in the match, winning heat 10, the Swede getting the better of Birmingham’s number 1 Jason Lyons round the first turn, to take an easy victory, his first of the night, but with Simon Walker unable to make any impression at the back, the Brummies maintained their 6 point advantage as the match entered its final third.

The race that virtually decided the outcome of this match came in heat 11, a heat that contained great skill and bad sportsmanship in equal measure.

First came the unsavoury.  Knowing that he had to make a good start in order to stop the outside run of Tomasz Piszcz, who would be coming out of the outside gate 4, Johnston lining up on the inside of Piszcz in gate 3.

Johnston did just as required, and not only stopped the Piszcz’s intended run, but sufficiently held up the Pole to allow his Somerset team-mate, Justin Sedgmen, through into 2^nd place.  As the riders entered the 3^rd bend 3, Piszcz got his entry to the turn all wrong, and went down like the proverbial sack of potatoes.  If that wasn’t bad enough, Piszcz then deliberately stayed down and then took an eternity to get to his feet, leaving referee no option but to stop the race with the Rebels on for a maximum 5-1 heat advantage that would have brought them right back into the match.

Despite much Polish finger wagging by Piszcz towards Sedgmen on his way back to the pits, and although it was a futile gesture his blatant gamesmanship had at least given his sole surviving team-mate Ben Taylor a chance to get something from the heat.

And he certainly did that with aplomb.  Leaving Steve Johnston in his wake as the riders left the tapes, Taylor had at least gained the initial advantage, though virtually the whole stadium, Birmingham and Somerset supporters alike, thought it would only be a matter of time before the inevitable would happen and ‘Johno’ would take the lead.

The only thing was that Taylor never read the script – riding a race of maturity beyond his years, he held off every move that Johnston tried to win the race by barely half a wheel to the raptures of the home fans.

Taylor’s heroics maintained Birmingham’s 6 point lead, which they further extended to an 8 point advantage in heat 12, Ksiezak and Taylor, combining for a 4-2 heat win, this after Somerset’s Tom Brown was excluded from the first attempt to re-run the race, after he came to grief on the first turn as the riders took to their second lap, the Welshman picking up some grip as he went wide into the turn.  After some on track treatment, however, he was able to make his way back to the pits unaided.

Despite Johnston winning heat 13 without any undue trouble over Lyons and Piszcz, with Gathercole bringing up the rear, it meant that the Birmingham had virtually sealed the match, only two maximum 5-1 heat wins in each of the final two races for the Rebels would only be good enough for them to snatch a draw.

Although Kramer did what he could for the Rebel cause by winning the penultimate heat, Taylor’s second place ahead of Herne was enough to give the match victory to the Brummies, but with the Rebels having now cut the margin of deficit to six points, they were at least in with a chance of claiming their first away point of the season should they lose by six points or less.

The final heat yet again saw Piszcz the centre of controversy, when he fell on the first turn, trying a wildly ambitious outside move that was doomed to failure the second he started it.  Once again, with the Pole quickly upon his feet and his bike within easy reach, the Pole remained on track, making no attempt whatsoever to clear the track and allow the race to continue, preferring to blame everyone but himself for his fall.  The referee failing to agree with Piszcz and for a second time in the match excluded the Birmingham number 5.

With Birmingham now only tracking one rider, Ksiezak, in the re-run, it meant that so long as both Somerset riders finished, they would be taking a point back down the M5, and so it proved, Johnston making it four wins out of five on the night, leaving partner Kramer, who was forced to use Herne’s bike after mechanical problems hit his own with the two minute time allowance ticking down, to take third place behind Ksiezak.

As ever, sport is a series of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ and speedway is no different, as the travelling band of Somerset fans left the Perry Barr stadium, they were left to ponder just what might have been had their side had a better ‘rub of the green,’ though they would have been cheered with what had been Somerset’s best showing away from the Oak Tree Arena so far in this season’s Premier Trophy competition.

KING’S LYNN STARS - 62

1. Tomas Topinka – 3, 2*, 3, 3, 3 = 14+1

2. Kozza Smith – Rider Replacement

3. Christian Henry - 2*, 1, 1, 2* = 6+2

4. Chris Schramm – 3, 3, 3, 3, 2* = 14+1

5. Emiliano Sanchez - 2*, 3, 1, 1, ret = 7+1

6. Jan Graversen – 1, 2*, 0, 1 = 4+1

7. Darcy Ward – 3, 3, 2, 3, 3 = 14

8. Darren Mallett – 3, ret = 3

SOMERSET REBELS - 32

1. Steve Johnston – 2, 4^, 0, 2, 0 = 8

2. Justin Sedgmen – ret, 0, 3, 2, 1 = 6

3. Simon Walker – 1, 1*, 0, 1 = 3+1

4. Emil Kramer – 0, 2, 2, 4^ = 8

5. Cory Gathercole – 1, 1, 2, 1* = 5+1

6. Tom Brown – 0, 0, 0, 0 = 0

7. Jay Herne – 1, ret, 1, 0 = 2

SCB Referee: David Dowling

HEAT DETAILS:

Heat 01: Topinka, Johnston, Graversen, Sedgmen (ret) (4-2) (4-2) 60.89

Heat 02: Ward, Graversen, Herne, Brown (flrmnt) (5-1) (9-3) 60.11

Heat 03: Schramm, Henry, Walker, Kramer (5-1) (14-4) 60.19

Heat 04: Ward, Sanchez, Gathercole, Herne (ret) (5-1) (19-5) 61.13

Heat 05: Schramm, Johnston (tactical), Henry, Sedgmen (4-4) (23-9) 60.20

Heat 06: Mallett, Topinka, Gathercole, Brown (5-1) (28-10) 61.79

Heat 07: Sanchez, Kramer, Walker, Graversen (3-3) (31-13) 61.45

Heat 08: Sedgmen, Ward, Herne, Mallett (ret) (2-4) (33-17) 61.04

Heat 09: Schramm, Gathercole, Henry, Brown (4-2) (37-19) 61.17

Heat 10: Topinka, Kramer, Sanchez, Walker (4-2) (41-21) 61.68

Heat 11: Ward, Sedgmen, Sanchez, Johnston (4-2) (45-23) 60.59

Heat 12: Ward, Henry, Walker, Brown (5-1) (50-24) 61.14

Heat 13: Topinka, Johnston, Gathercole, Sanchez (ret) (3-3) (53-27) 61.42

Heat 14: Schramm, Kramer (tactical), Graversen, Herne (4-4) (57-31 61.28

Heat 15: Topinka, Schramm, Sedgmen, Johnston (5-1) (62-32) 61.85

For the third time in as many away matches, the Somerset Rebels were made to pay for a poor start to a meeting which virtually ended any hopes they might have harboured about coming away from the Norfolk Arena with any sort of a result.

The Rebels were on the back foot right from the off as although Steve Johnston led from the tapes, Topinka was soon past him and into the lead and with Graversen picking up third spot after Sedgmen retired from the race with a burnt clutch, the Stars took a lead that they were never going to relinquish.

The following three heats were a complete disaster as far as the Rebels were concerned, as they were consistently out-gated by the home riders who ran in three, largely unchallenged, consecutive maximum 5-1 heat victories, only Cory Gathercole getting anywhere near a home rider, putting Sanchez under pressure for second place in heat four until a slight mistake by the Somerset number 5 gave the Star’s Argentinean rider some breathing space, which enabled him to hold on to his second place

Already 14 points down and with only four heats gone, it wasn’t much of a surprise to see Somerset’s Steve Johnston take to the track for heat 5 wearing the double point, black and white helmet colour, as the Rebels looked to somehow drag themselves back into this match.

The move, however, was only a partial success as Chris Schramm took the race victory ahead of Johnston, but at least the four points that ‘Johno’ secured for second place stopped the Star from further increasing their lead, but it was only to be a temporary respite, as King’s Lynn posted their fourth maximum heat win of the match in heat 6, Tomas Topinka expertly ‘shielding’ his young partner, the King’s Lynn number 8 Darren Mallett, to thwart Cory Gathercole’s attempts to challenge for the lead.

Somerset’s one real moment of glory on an otherwise disappointing night came in heat 8 which saw the ever improving Justin Sedgmen inflict a rare race defeat on King’s Lynn’s young precocious talent that is Darcy Ward.  The 16-year-old Ward has been in sublime form since arriving on these shores at the start of the season and has been virtually unbeatable around the Norfolk Arena.

Never one to worry about reputations, Sedgmen and his race partner Jay Herne both made lightening starts, Ward, for once struggling out of the gate.  It did not take long for Ward to pass Herne for second place, and then set after Sedgmen.  Inexorably Ward was closing in on Sedgmen, but Somerset’s young Aussie rode a race of great maturity that belied his relative inexperience to hold the fast charging Ward at bay and record Somerset’s only race winner and heat advantage of the night.

From thereon in, however, it was to be case of King’s Lynn further extending their lead over the Rebels, three successive 4-2 heat advantages couple with a fifth 5-1 maximum heat win for the Stars further bolstered their lead to 26 points with three heats still remaining, and although Somerset managed a share of the spoils in heats 13 and 14, the latter being courtesy of a tactical ride, double point, second place by Emil Kramer, King’s Lynn rounded off their evening in style with a last heat 5-1 by Topinka and Schramm and King’s Lynn the match by a 30 point winning margin.

Scunthorpe ‘Henderson Insurance’ Scorpions

versus

Scunthorpe = 53
1. David Howe 2*, 3, 3, 3, 2 = 13+1
2. Simon Lambert T, 2*, 3, 1 = 6+1
3. Carl Wilkinson 3, flx, 0, 3 = 6

4. Viktor Bergstrom 2*, flx, 2, 1 = 5+1
5. Magnus Karlsson 3, 2, 3, 2*, 0 = 10+1
6. Jerran Hart 3, 3, 0, 0, 3 = 9

7. Byron Bekker 2*, 1, 1, 0 = 4+1

Somerset = 40
1. Steve Johnston 1, 6^, 2, 1 = 10

2. Justin Sedgmen 0, 2*, 2, 1* = 5+2
3. Simon Walker 0, 1, 0, 2 = 3

4. Emil Kramer 1, 3, 2, 4^, 3 = 13

5. Cory Gathercole ret, ret, 3, 0, 1 = 4

6. Tom Brown 0, exl, 1, 1* = 2+1
7. Jay Herne 1, 2, 0, 0 = 3

Heat Results

Heat 01: Hart, Howe, Johnston, Sedgmen (5-1) (5-1) 57.79
Heat 02: Hart, Bekker, Herne, Brown (5-1) (10-2) 60.36
Heat 03: Wilkinson, Bergstrom, Kramer, Walker (5-1) (15-3) 57.81
Heat 04: Karlsson, Herne, Bekker, Gathercole (ef - ret) (4-2) (19-5) 59.28
Heat 05: (Re-run x 2) Johnston (tactical), Sedgmen, Wilkinson (flx), Bergstrom (flx) (0-8) (19-13) 61.07
Heat 06: Howe, Lambert, Brown (exl), Gathercole (ef – fell/ret) (5-0) (24-13) 58.56
Heat 07: (Re-run) Kramer, Karlsson, Walker, Hart (2-4) (26-17) 58.98
Heat 08: Lambert, Sedgmen, Bekker, Herne (4-2) (30-19) 59.04
Heat 09: Gathercole, Bergstrom, Brown, Wilkinson (2-4) (32-23) 59.48
Heat 10: Howe, Kramer, Lambert, Walker (4-2) (36-25) 58.54
Heat 11: Karlsson, Johnston, Sedgmen, Hart (3-3) (39-28) 59.40

Heat 12: Wilkinson, Walker, Brown, Bekker (3-3) (42-31) 59.62
Heat 13: Howe, Karlsson, Johnston, Gathercole (5-1) (47-32) 59.34
Heat 14: (Re-run) Hart, Kramer (tactical), Bergstrom, Herne (4-4) (51-36) 58.76
Heat 15: Kramer, Howe, Gathercole, Karlsson (2-4) (53-40) 59.14

With three points in the bag from Friday’s home leg, the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels arrived at the Eddie Wright Raceway looking to add at least one more point to their Premier Trophy total, but the Scunthorpe ‘Henderson Insurance’ Scorpions had other ideas.

From the very first tape rise the Rebels were under the cosh, as the Scorpions leapt to a 15-3 lead after just three heats. Not only were the Scorpions in a hot vein of form, but several incidents littered the first half of the match.

In Heat 1 Simon Lambert went through the tapes, and looped the bike before Referee Craig Ackroyd could let them go. That brought Jerran Hart into the line in place of Lambert, and he made no mistake as he led off the first turn from Justin Sedgmen. David Howe was soon on the shoulder of Sedgmen, and passed the youngster off the second bend. Steve Johnston could only break level with the rest, and was forced wide on the first turn, and by the time he recovered the rest were gone. He could only get to Sedgmen on the second lap, and after moving into third, he could make no impression on the two leaders.

Hart was back out in the next race, and once more made the best of a level break, with Tom Brown just behind. Brown made a mistake on the second, and this let Byron Bekker through on the second bend. Brown was not done, and fought back to regain second spot on the next lap, only to see Bekker come back at him, and retake the place a couple of bends later. On the next lap it was Bekker’s turn to make a mistake, but Brown couldn’t take advantage this time, and the Scorpions ran out to a full house.

 There was lots of movement at the start of Heat 3, with riders from both sides responsible. The upshot was that Simon Walker went just before the tapes rose, and couldn’t stop the bike in time. He clearly touched the tapes, but Craig Ackroyd either didn’t see it of chose to ignore it, and allowed the race to continue. With Walker planted at the line, and Emil Kramer breaking behind the two Scorpions, the home pair of Wilkinson and Bergstrom took up the running from early on. Kramer powered after the pair, and caught fellow countryman, Viktor Bergstrom at the end of the second lap. He was all over the Swede for the next two laps, but could not find a way round him.

Things got slightly better in Heat 4, but only by one point, as the Scorpions took a 4-2 advantage. Jay Herne made a good gate to just lead from Magnus Karlsson. Karlsson took Herne on the back straight, with Cory Gathercole being challenged for third by Byron Bekker. Gathercole got not further than the third turn, as his machine expired. Bekker set off after Herne, but couldn’t get close as the Rebels man almost doubled their points tally.

The next two heats were somewhat unusual in that they both went unanswered by the team losing the heat. In Heat 5 Ronnie Russell sent out Steve Johnston in the ‘Black and White’ in a quest for double points. It took three attempts to get the race completed, as first Viktor Bergstrom fell on the first turn, and was excluded. It seemed a very harsh decision, as the whole field tightened up moving towards the wide outside, and the Swede was caught on the outside with nowhere to go.

In the first restart Johnston lead from Justin Sedgmen, with Carl Wilkinson in third. Wilkinson came very hard under Sedgmen off the second bend to take second spot. Sedgmen was back on terms with Wilkinson, and cut up his inside on the final turn of the lap. It was a clean move that appeared to take the Scunthorpe man by surprise, and Wilkinson went down, and stayed down. When it was clear he wasn’t clearing the track, the referee had no alternative but to stop the race and excluded Wilkinson, much to the Lincolnshire mans disgust, which he displayed as he rode past the referee’s box. As much Bergstrom’s exclusion was harsh, this one was entirely correct as Sedgmen had made a clean pass, and Wilkinson went down on his own. With only the two Rebels at the tapes the race finally got underway at the third time of asking, and the Rebels took an 8-0 win.

Heat 6 also finished with an unanswered win, but this time to the Scorpions. The race got underway at the first time of asking, but Cory Gathercole was last way as he got caught moving as the tapes rose. David Howe led at the first turn, with Tom Brown in second. Simon Lambert moved passed Brown on the back straight. Gathercole was just getting back into the race when he fell on the first bend of the next lap, as his engine blew up in a major fashion. The race fished with Brown in third, but it was a long time before the result was announced. When it eventually came it was announced that Brown was excluded for not having a dirt deflector, and the Scorpions were awarded a 5-0 victory.

In the next four heats the teams swapped 4-2 advantages, with the Rebels taking first blood in Heat 7, but only after another re-run. Simon Walker got a flyer as he anticipated the tapes after another start were a lot of movement took place, as they were held on the green light for an age. They were around the third turn, with the Rebels on a 5-1, before the lights came on to recall them. In the restart Magnus Karlsson led from Emil Kramer. Kramer took a lap to size up Karlsson, before cutting inside on the second bend to lead the race. Behind them Jerran Hart was trying all he knew to close on Walker, but could make no impression as the Rebels took the advantage.

The Rebels broke behind Byron Bekker, but were soon on a 5-1 as they swooped in him in the first bend of Heat 8. Bekker hit back as he passed Jay Herne on the back straight with Simon Lambert repeating the move on the next couple of bends. Lambert then passed his team mate on the back straight of the second lap. He then chased down Justin Sedgmen, who had set sail for home. Closing down fast, he cut inside the improving Aussie, to complete a stunning last to first victory.

Heat 9 saw the Rebels in another 5-1 position as Cory Gathercole led from the first turn to take an easy win. Viktor Bergstrom had trapped in second, but ran wide off the first turn, hampering Carl Wilkinson in the process, and allowing Tom Brown up his inside, and into second place.  Bergstrom passed Brown again quickly, but the Welshman came back at him and retook the place on the second bend of Lap 2, and then Bergstrom came back over him on the next bend. Carl Wilkinson chased Brown hard, but could never get on terms.

Heat 10 saw the Scorpions take the heat advantage, with David Howe coming from behind a fast starting pair of Emil Kramer and Simon Lambert, with a run on the wide outside of bend two. Lambert threw in his challenge to Kramer on lap 3, and then put in a big run off the last bend, but never had enough to catch the Rebels man.

Magnus Karlsson got the better of a level break in Heat 11, and for a moment it looked like Jerran Hart would join him on the wide outside. The Rebels pairing of Johnston and Sedgmen raced with Hart for the first lap, before first Johnston, and then Sedgmen came up Hart’s inside as he continued on the wide line. The shared heat had given the Rebels a chance of salvaging a point from the ties, as they were 11-points down with four heats left.

Heat 12 didn’t change much as that too was shared. Carl Wilkinson led from the first turn after a level break. Simon Walker took second from his team mate Tom Brown with a wide sweep around the second turn. Byron Bekker challenged Brown briefly on the back straight, but that was as close as it got and the race ran out a draw.

With the Rebels still in the hunt for 1-point, the Scorpions turned the screw again, and almost put the meeting out of reach of their opponents as they hammered home a maximum advantage in Heat 13. A fairly level break saw the four riders enter the turn together, but I was the Rebels pair who came off worst as David Howe forced Cory Gathercole wide, and virtually out of the race. Steve Johnston led off the bend, but had no answer to Howe’s run off the final bend of the lap. Magnus Karlsson came on the scene to challenge Johnston, and the pair engaged in a race-long battle, swapping places as they went, until Karlsson asserted himself over the last lap and a half.

Although the Scorpions had pushed their lead out to 15-points, two 4-2 advantages, including a tactical ride win in the penultimate heat, would still have given the Rebels a 6-point loss, and a point towards their Premier Trophy tally. The race took two attempts to run, as the original start was held on the green light for what seemed an eternity. It was not the first time in the afternoon this had happened, and both Jerran Hart, and Emil Kramer, who took the tactical ride in Heat 14, sat up as the tapes rose. Craig Ackroyd had no alternative but to call back the other two for an unsatisfactory start. The Rebels fate was sealed in the re-run, when Jerran Hart led out of the first turn. Viktor Bergstrom was pushed wide on the opening turn, allowing Jay Herne through on the second bend, but he was back in third before the next lap was complete. He chased Kramer hard, but could never close the gap.

With the 3-points secured for the Scorpions, the Rebels took the final heat with a 4-2 advantage. Emil Kramer and Cory Gathercole took the track against David Howe and Magnus Karlsson. It was Kramer who made the best start, and led around the opening turn. Once in front he pulled clear, and no one got in a blow. Gathercole was again forced wide, and almost out of the race, but he rallied and came with a big run to grab the place from Karlsson on Lap 3, and give a final score of 53-40 to the home side.

The damage had been done in the first three heats, as Scorpions got off to a flying start, and this was illustrated by the fact that the Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels were only 1-point adrift of the home side over the final 12 heats. The Rebels will now need to be on the top of their game as they travel to the Norfolk Arena to take on a very strong looking Kings Lynn Stars on Wednesday, before returning to the Oak Tree Arena for their next home match against the Birmingham Brummies on Friday.

2. Cory Gathercole - R, R, 1, 3, 3 = 7

3. Simon Walker - R, 0, 3, X, = 3
4. Emil Kramer - 1, 6^, 1, 2 = 10

5. Justin Sedgmen - 1, 1, 2, X = 4
6. Tom Brown - 0, 0, 1*, 1 = 2+1
7. Jay Herne - 2, 0, 0, 0 = 2

SCB Referee: Graham Reeve

Heat Details

Heat 01: Complin, Johnston, Phillips, Gathercole (ret) 64.3 (4-2) (4-2)

Heat 02: Jakobsen, Herne, Kristiansen, Brown 67.2 (4-2) (8-4)

Heat 03: Madsen, Bunyan, Kramer, Walker (ret) 56.5 (5-1) (13-5)

Heat 04: Jakobsen, Morris, Sedgmen, Herne 65.9 (5-1) (18-6)

Heat 05: Bunyan, Johnston^, Madsen, Gathercole (ret) 64.8 (4-4) (22-10)

Heat 06: Phillips, Complin, Sedgmen, Brown 65.6 (5-1) (27-11)

Heat 07: Kramer^, Kristiansen, Morris, Walker 65.2 (3-6) (30-17)

Heat 08: Jakobsen, Phillips, Gathercole, Herne 65.0 (5-1) (35-18)

Heat 09: Madsen, Sedgmen, Brown, Bunyan (ret) 65.1 (3-3) (38-21)

Heat 10: Walker, Complin, Kramer, Phillips 64.7 (2-4) (40-25)

Heat 11: Gathercole, Johnston, Morris, Kristiansen 64.8 (1-5) (41-30)

Heat 12: Jakobsen, Madsen, Brown, Walker (f.exc) awd (5-1) (46-31)

Heat 13: Johnston, Complin, Morris, Sedgmen (f.exc) 65.4 (3-3) (49-34)

Heat 14: Bunyan, Kramer, Kristiansen, Herne 65.1 (4-2) (53-36)

Heat 15: Gathercole, Bunyan, Johnston, Jakobsen 64.7 (2-4) (55-40)

The Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels travelled up to Stoke’s Loomer Road circuit for this Premier Trophy encounter fresh from the home victory over Rye House 24 hours earlier, but any hopes of the Rebels heading home with any points in the locker were quickly dashed as the home side piled on the points in the early heats and by the half way stage the Potters had established an almost unassailable 17 point.

The Rebels could be excused for feeling that it was not going to be their night when Cory Gathercole was forced to retire from his opening two rides with bike problems when in good points scoring positions.  As ever, sport is a constant round of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ and speedway is no different, and it is anyone’s guess as to how the meeting might have panned out had the young Australian not suffered such cruel misfortune.

As it was the Potters took full advantage of the Somerset woes, Complin heading home Steve Johnston in the opening heat after Gathercole’s retirement when 2^nd and with ex-Rebel Glen Phillips picking up the point for third place, it put Stoke into an early two point lead.

Hopes were high of Somerset bringing the scores back level in heat 2 as Jay Herne made a blistering start to head Jakobsen for the Potters and with Tom Brown holding third, a 4-2 for the Rebels looked on the cards.  In the blink of a eye, however, Jakobsen found a way past Herne on the third lap, and almost simultaneously Kristiansen passed Brown into third, turning that possible Somerset 4-2 heat win into a second successive 4-2 for Stoke.

Things went from bad to worse for Somerset in the next two heats as Stoke piled on the agony, posting maximum 5-1 heat wins in both races, Bunyan being particularly forceful in his last bend pass on Somerset’s Emil Kramer in heat 3 to follow home team-mate Madsen over the finish line, heat 4 then giving Jakobsen his second win on the bounce as the Stoke pairing made much the better gate over their Somerset counterparts, although one could not fault Justin Sedgmen’s efforts in trying to find a way past the vastly more experienced Phil Morris for a possible second place, Somerset’s Milduran belying the fact this was his first ever look at Stoke’s Loomer Road circuit as he tried every line possible in his quest for second place, but Morris’ experience won the day.

Gathercole’s first heat misery was further compounded in heat 5, his bike grinding to a halt as the riders took to the back straight, having just eased through into second place, leaving skipper Johnston in a lone battle for the points, the Somerset number 1 having the extra responsibility of the double point ‘black and white’ helmet colour.  He was, however, no match for Stoke’s Jason Bunyan who sped away for the heat win, Johnston’s four points for second place at least giving the Rebels the comfort of stemming the tide somewhat as they looked to contain the home side.

It was though a momentary respite as Stoke immediately banged in their third maximum 5-1 heat advantage of the opening 6 heats, this time Phillips and Complin doing the damage, though yet again Justin Sedgmen gave his all in pressurising Complin for second place, never giving the Stoke number 1 a moment’s peace as he fought to find a way past.

Finally, heat 7 gave the small band of travelling Rebel fans something to cheer as Emil Kramer out on Somerset second and last double point tactical ride, flew from the gate to post the visitor’s first heat winner of the night, but the move was limited in its success as Stoke packed in for the minor places to deny Walker the chance to fully capitalise on Kramer’s 6 points for the heat win.

Stoke hit back immediately a heat later, Jakobsen taking his third win from as many starts to be followed home by team-mate Phillips, Gathercole once again being left to curse his luck as he found himself heading towards the Loomer Road air-fence courtesy of Phillips momentarily losing control as the Somerset rider was making a telling sweep around the outside of everyone in the first turn.  Although he somehow managed to stay on board his bike, the Stoke pair were, by now, long gone, as were any possible hopes of a Somerset fight-back with the Potters now 17 points to the good.

Heat 9 once again showed that Somerset could well have made a shrewd signing in Justin Sedgmen, the 17 year old giving everything to try and record his maiden heat win in British speedway, Madsen will probably not have a tougher race all season than Sedgmen gave him over the four laps of this heat, but it was not to be for the youngster, his final four point tally for the night being meager reward for the effort and ‘never say die’ attitude he displayed tonight.

Heats 10 and 11 provided Somerset with something of a mini revival, as they first took a 4-2 heat advantage, Simon Walker storming from the tapes to streak away for the win, Kramer just unable to hold off the attentions of Lee Complin for second place.  This was further bettered a race later when Cory Gathercole showed just what might have been had it not been for his earlier bike problems as he flew from the tapes in heat 11 to make in two heat winners on the trot for Somerset, and with Johnston following his Aussie compatriot home in second place, suddenly the Rebels had cut the deficit to just 11 points and the chance of a bonus point for finishing within 7 points of Stoke began to look a real possibility.

It was, however, to be a false dawn as Stoke immediately hit back with a 5-1 of their own to stretch their lead back out to 15 points, and with it any real chance of the Rebels taking anything from this match.  Jakobsen making it a personal tally of four straight wins with riding partner Madsen being awarded second place when Somerset’s Simon Walker fell as the riders took to the first turn on the final lap, earning him an exclusion in the process for being the cause of referee Graham Reeve having to stop the race.

Heat 13 saw Somerset’s Steve Johnston finally managed to open his account as far as his ‘win’ column in his score-chart was concerned, taking the race with ease at the second time of asking, the highly impressive Justin Sedgmen coming to grief on the first turn, then being unable to recover his bike from under the air fence, giving the referee no option but to call a halt to proceedings and exclude Sedgmen from the re-run.

The two sides then swapped 4-2 heat advantages in the final two races, Gathercole yet again flying from the tapes in heat 15 to take his second win of the night, but with Stoke running out comfortable winners by 15 points on the night, the Somerset camp were left ruing just what might have been had Gathercole managed to complete his first two rides as his two wins in the latter stages of this meeting were just simply electrifying.

The Rebels now have the best part of a week to get this defeat out of their system before they entertain Scunthorpe at the Oak Tree Arena on Good Friday [10^th April] in the Premier Trophy, the return fixture in Lincolnshire taking place on Bank Holiday Monday [13^th] at 3pm.

Report courtesy of Ian Belcher

Newport Wasps – 44

1. Mark Lemon (C) - 1, 3, 3, 2, 3, 1 = 13

2. Jordan Frampton - 0, 0, 2*, 2, 1* = 5+2
3. Chris Kerr - 2, 1, 3, 3, 2, 0 = 11

4. Craig Watson - Rider Replacement
5. Brent Werner - 2, 1*, 1, 1 - 5+1

6. James Holder - 3, 2, 2*, ret, 1* = 8+2
7. Nick Simmons - flrmt, 1*, 0, 1 = 2+1
8. Kyle Newman – DNR

Somerset Rebels - 46
1. Steve Johnston (C) - 3, 2, 2*, 2, 2* = 11+2
2. Cory Gathercole - 2*, 1, 0, 3, 3 = 9+1
3. Simon Walker - Rider Replacement
4. Emil Kramer - 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 = 15

5. Brendan Johnson - 0, 0, 0 = 0

6. Tom Brown - 1*, 1, 1, 2, 0 = 5+1
7. Jay Herne - 2, 3, 0, 1, 0, flx, ret = 6

SCB Referee: Ronnie Allan

Heat Details

Heat 01 Result: Johnston, Gathercole, Lemon, Frampton 60:16 (1-5) (1-5)

Heat 02 Result: Holder, Herne, Brown, Simmons (Fell remounted) 60:22 (3-3) (4-8)
Heat 03 Result: Kramer, Kerr, Gathercole, Frampton 59:77 (2-4) (6-12)
Heat 04 Result: Herne, Werner, Simmons, Johnson 60:52 (3-3) (9-15)

Heat 05 Result: Lemon, Johnston, Kerr, Gathercole 58:87 (4-2) (13-17)

Heat 06 Result: Lemon, Frampton, Brown, Johnson 59:59 (5-1) (18-18)

Heat 07 Result: Kramer, Holder, Werner, Herne 60:52 (3-3) (21-21)

Heat 08 Result: Gathercole, Frampton, Brown, Simmons 60:73 (2-4) (23-25)

Heat 09 Result: Kerr, Holder, Herne, Johnson 60:36 (5-1) (28-26)

Heat 10 Result: Kramer, Lemon, Frampton, Herne 60:44 (3-3) (31-29)

Heat 11 Result: Gathercole, Johnston, Werner, Holder (ret) 60:84 (1-5) (32-34)

Heat 12 Result: Kerr, Brown, Simmons, Herne (flx) Awarded (4-2) (36-36)

Heat 13 Result: Lemon, Johnston, Werner, Brown 59:77 (4-2) (40-38)

Heat 14 Result: Kramer, Kerr, Holder, Herne (ret) 60:38 (3-3) (43-41)

Heat 15 Result: Kramer, Johnston, Lemon, Kerr 59:99 (1-5) (44-46)

A large contingent of Rebels supporters made the short journey across the Severn estuary to see last years KO Cup winners first competitive action of the season. The Rebels were contesting the 1^st leg of the Severn Bridge Trophy challenge match, against a re-vamped Newport side. The home side were missing Craig Watson following last weekend’s crash in the Prince of Wales Trophy meeting. Despite this the Wasps went into the tie as favourites, especially with the late withdrawal of Simon Walker (illness) further depleting the Rebels, following the delayed arrival of Justin Sedgmen from Australia.  Brendan Johnson deputised for Sedgmen, whilst both Watson and Walker were covered by rider replacement.

Spearheaded by new skipper Steve Johnston, the Rebels took a stunning opening 5-1 victory, when Johnston beat Mark Lemon to the first turn, and Cory Gathercole rode a superb second bend to take Lemon on the inside. Jordan Frampton never recovered from a big lift off the line. Once in front the Rebels made no mistake, taking maximum points despite Lemon closing down on Gathercole late on.

The Wasps looked to have a chance to pull back the deficit with their strong looking reserve pairing, until Nick Simmons succumb to movement at the start, and hit the tapes. James Holder made a good start leading all the way from the gate, whilst the Rebels pairing of Jay Herne and Tom Brown easily held off the closing Simmons before the Wasps man fell and remounted in his effort to overcome his 15-metre handicap.

Somerset’s favourite Swede, Emil Kramer, showed that his close season fitness and training schedule had not been in vain when he bolted out of the gate, and rode a superb bend to take Heat 3 in a canter. Newport’s young American, Chris Kerr, came from third place to grab second at the end of the first lap from Cory Gathercole, who was in for the absent Simon Walker. The Wasps rider replacement, Jordan Frampton, was slowly away, and never in the hunt.

Reserve Jay Herne made an early impact when his flew from Gate 1 in Heat 4 to lead all the way, and easily hold off one of last year’s Rebels septet, the experience Brent Werner. Despite the American throwing down a challenge to the young Aussie at the second bend, Herne never looked in danger as he pulled away in the latter stages to win with ease. Brendan Johnson took his first ride of the day, and was well in contention until locking up on lap 2.

Heat 5 saw the Wasps take their first heat advantage of the day when Mark Lemon deputised for the injured Watson. After a level break Lemon just got the better of Chris Kerr and Steve Johnston at the first turn. Johnston powered round the outside of Kerr on the second bend, but Lemon was away. Try as he might Johnno could not get back on terms with Lemon, who scorched home in a near track record time of 58:87. Cory Gathercole lost his chance as he locked up on the opening turn.

The Wasps levelled the scores when Mark Lemon made a quick return to the track in Heat 6. Lemon combined with Jordan Frampton to take a maximum heat win, with a ‘from the gate’ advantage over Tom Brown and Brendan Johnson. A shared heat followed as Emil Kramer gave another faultless display, storming to the front on the wide line of second bend, accounting for James Holder in the process. Brent Werner took revenge for his earlier beating as he took third spot from Jay Herne.

Over the next five heats the score see-sawed first one way then the other, first it was the Rebels turn to grab the lead back with a 4-2 advantage in Heat 8, giving them a two-point lead, 23-25. Cory Gathercole and Tom Brown, in as a reserve switch, shot from the gate to set up what looked like a 5-1 advantage, but Jordan Frampton had other ideas, and ran down Brown taking second spot with a neat pass on the opening bend of the second lap. Frampton could never get on terms with Gathercole, as Brown easily held on to third spot from Nick Simmons.

The Wasps took the lead back immediately with a 5-1 in Heat 9, with Chris Kerr and James Holder supplying the points. After they broke level with Jay Herne, the pair pulled out a lead shortly after the first turn, and from there they were never challenged. A shared heat followed as Emil Kramer powered his way to his third win on the spin. Another fast break alongside Mark Lemon saw him lead from the first turn, but the Wasps skipper soon challenged him again. He fought off that challenge as they ran onto the back straight, pulling clear until Lemon eased closer on the final lap. Jordan Frampton took third from Jay Herne.

In Heat 11 it was the Rebels who took all the points with a 5-1 of their own. Steve Johnston was quickly away, and led into the first turn from Brent Werner. Cory Gathercole came with a storming run around the outside, and was in front as they exited the second bend. Johnno let him go through on the fourth bend, and then produced a superb team ride to see the young Victorian home. James Holder fell in the latter stages to leave Brent Werner to take third spot.

Heat 12 produced one of the races of the day, but not for first place. A level break saw the Wasps pair of Kerr and Simmons emerge from the first bend on a 5-1, but that lasted only until the fourth bend. As the field exited the final turn of the lap, the Rebels reserve pairing swooped either side of Simmons in a stunning move. The move came right out of the blue, and the surprise on Simmons’ face could almost be seen through his goggles and facemask. That pass summoned the onset of a terrific battle for second place, as the three riders were never more than half a length apart for virtually the whole race, and it was only ended as Jay Herne took a heavy fall, out on the wide line, going out onto the final lap. The race was stopped and awarded. The advantage gained by the Wasps brought the scores level again at 36-36.

The home side moved back into the lead with another 4-2 advantage in the very next heat. The field broke level, but it was the Wasps pair of Lemon and Werner who showed first at the opening turn. Steve Johnston was not far behind, and conjured a good run around the outside to move smoothly into second, and challenged on the inside of Lemon. Down the home straight for the second time he got alongside, and almost through, before Lemon shut the door in to the first turn of Lap 2. Johnston kept Lemon up to his work over the final three laps, but could not get in another blow before the flag fall.

Heat 14 started at the second time of asking, as the original start saw Chris Kerr sit up as the tapes rose after movement from Jay Herne. Ronnie Allan called them back, and fined Herne for his trouble, after he had apparently been warned earlier for the same offence. In the restart the points were shared, as Emil Kramer added a fourth win to his earlier trio. Kramer popped out of the gate to lead at the first turn, but then had Kerr all over him entering the back straight, before the Californian squeezed through on the fence. Kramer pressured Kerr into the final bends of the lap, forcing the American into a mistake, and causing him to run wide off the fourth turn. That was all the invitation the cool Swede needed, as he shot back into a lead he was not to lose, and setting up a nail biting last heat decider in the process.

Fittingly it was Kramer, paired with his skipper Steve Johnston, who took to the track for the Rebels in Heat 15. The Wasps fielded their top pair of Lemon and Kerr. As the tapes rose Johnston, Lemon and Kramer broke together, with the two skippers just shading the first bend. Kramer powered round the outside, and was past Lemon and alongside Johnston as the exited the second turn. Johnston let his team mate go by, and then produced his second great team ride of the day to seal the victory for the Rebels, leaving Kramer to take his fifth heat win of the day, and a fantastic full maximum.

The Rebels had produced another one of their famous fighting performances to stun the home fans. Ordinarily it would be churlish to single out any one rider in a performance like this, as they all contributed in their own way, but the obvious stand outs were Emil Kramer for his maximum, and Steve Johnston for a thoroughly team orientated performance.

The narrow two point victory was a sweet as it was unexpected for the many Rebels fans who had made the short journey over the water, and it set up an eagerly anticipated return leg at the Oak Tree Arena on Friday. By that time the Rebels should be at full strength, with the arrival of Justin Sedgmen, and it is expected that the Wasps will also be back to a full squad as another former Rebel, Paul Fry, is set to replace the injured Craig Watson.

Official Match Reporter: Dave Thompson