MATCHES don’t come much bigger than Friday night (September 13), when the Somerset Rebel face the current league leaders, the Ipswich Witches, at the Oaktree Arena in a top of the table clash.

Somerset and Ipswich currently occupy the top two positions in the league table, with the Rebels looking to end the regular season on top of the table prior to heading into the Championship-deciding play-offs.

Whilst the Premier League Championship is decided via a play-off system involving the top six teams, the team that finishes top of the league table not only receive a trophy in recognition of their performance over the season as a whole, but also get first pick as to who their opposition will be in those Championship-deciding play-offs.

Somerset Promoter Debbie Hancock said: “This is a real ‘big one’ that will go a long way to deciding the top of the Premier League, and I would like to think that the Somerset fans will come out in their droves to attend what not only has the makings of a cracking match, but to get right behind the Somerset boys as we look to finish the regular season in top spot as far as the league table is concerned.

“We have been blessed with some fantastic racing at the Oaktree Arena this year and Ipswich have proved to be very competitive on their travels having picked up at least a league point in each of the ten away matches they have ridden in so far this season.

“Such is the importance of the match, should Friday night fall foul of the weather then we have already made arrangements with Ipswich for it to be re-staged on the following Monday (September 16) in order to try and get the meeting completed before the cut-off date for the play-offs, which is that Monday night.”

Next Wednesday (18th) will see the Somerset Rebels face the Edinburgh Monarchs in the first leg of their Knock-Out Cup semi-final replay.

The second leg will take place at Edinburgh’s Scotwaste Arena on Friday (September 20).

The original attempt to see who will face Rye House in the final, ended in a thrilling 90-all draw over the two legs; with both sides winning their respective home legs of the match 49-41.

Somerset Team Manager Garry May said: “We have faced Edinburgh four times already this season, twice at home and twice away, and every match has been a superb advert for speedway, and there is no reason to expect anything different from the two legs of this Cup replay.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if the replay went right down to the wire before we know whether it will be us or the Monarchs that will contesting the Final against Rye House.”