SGB Premiership
Poole Pirates 48, Somerset Rebels 42

SOMERSET added a point to their league tally on Bank Holiday Monday when they lost 48-42 at Poole.

The meeting went down to a last heat decider after the makeshift Rebels registered back-to-back maximum heat scores in heats 12 and 13 which left the scores level with just two heats remaining.

Guest Tero Aarnio had combined with Nico Covatti in the 12th to take the 5-1 over Richie Worrall and Frederik Jakobsen, and Jason Doyle and Jack Holder followed that up with one of their own – Chris Harris and Brady Kurtz the beaten Pirates.

A tactical ride for Doyle in heat 9 only had the effect of sharing the heat but the Rebels’ heads didn’t drop, despite slipping a further two points behind after the 11th.

They responded in fine style, recovering with those maximum heat wins.

The Pirates, however, gave themselves the advantage by netting a Klindt/Woryna 5-1 in the penultimate heat, leaving the Rebels having to respond similarly to force the draw.

Doyle and Holder both trapped in heat 15 but the red lights came on and a warning was issued to Doyle.

The re-start had an even break but Doyle hit a rut round the first arc, causing his leg to become trapped against the foot-peg on his bike, pulling up instantly with a damaged ankle.

The race continued with Kacper Woryna picking up his fourth winning ride, from six starts, while Holder fended off Josh Grajczonek for the consolation point.

Scores
Poole (48): K. Woryna 15+2 (3,3,3,1’,2’,3), F. Jakobsen 7+2 (2’,1’,3,1), C. Harris 7+1 (2,2’,2,1), J. Grajczonek 7+2 (1’,0,2’,3,1), B. Kurtz 5 (2,2,1,0), N. Klindt 4+1 (0,1’,3), R. Worrall 3 (0,1,2,0)
Somerset (42): J. Doyle 15 (3,3,3,3,3,R), J. Holder 7+1 (0,3,0,0,2’,2), N. Busk Jakobsen 6 (1,3,1,1,0), T. Aarnio 6 (0,2,1,3,0), N. Covatti 6+2 (1’,0,2,2’,1), A. Summers 2+1 (0,2’,0)

Poole’s win took them back above the Rebels and later in the day they added another point with a defeat at Swindon; King’s Lynn also leapfrogged Somerset with a four-point haul at Leicester.

Belle Vue currently occupy fourth place, two points behind Somerset.

The Rebels are certain to finish higher than last season’s champions Swindon.

They are next in action tomorrow (Wednesday) night, at home to Wolverhampton.

Following that match, the Rebels' remaining SGB Premiership fixtures are:
Monday, September 3 - Leicester v Somerset
Tuesday, September 4 - Somerset v King’s Lynn
Monday, September 10 - Belle Vue v Somerset

The outstanding SGB Premiership League fixture against King’s Lynn will now be staged at the Oaktree Arena on Tuesday, September 4, with the scheduled cup fixture originally stamped in for Wednesday being pushed back.

Club owner Debbie Hancock said: “We were facing a heavy fine imposed by the SCB if we did not have a date for this outstanding league fixture.

“After exhausting all other possible avenues, the only date we could agree with King’s Lynn is Tuesday.

“With us racing at Leicester on the Monday we couldn’t go with three nights in succession and with the kind grace of Belle Vue we have agreed to push back our cup semi-final first leg and will be confirming the date for that very shortly.

“With the way the Premiership is shaping up and still five sides with very realistic chances of reaching the final four, it is imperative that we complete all our league matches before the cut-off date of September 10.

“We recognise this is an off-night as far as Somerset speedway is concerned but we had no other alternative to next Tuesday.

“I hope this change of dates won’t inconvenience our supporters too much and we can still attract a good crowd, especially as we are so close to reaching top-flight play-offs for the first time in the club’s history.”