Premier League Knock-Out Cup semi-final, first leg

Somerset Rebels 59 Rye House Rockets 31

THE SOMERSET Rebels took a huge step towards Premier League Knock-Out Cup glory, with a comprehensive 59-31 first-leg trouncing of the Rye House Rockets at the Oaktree Arena last Friday (September 27).

In the early stages the Rockets kept it tight, but from Heat five onwards, the Rebels turned the screw, to the extent that from there on, the Rockets only supplied one heat winner.

The meeting opened in regulation fashion, as Jason Doyle blasted from the tapes to lead all the way from Olly Allen.

The next three heats were shared, with the Rebels supplying two of the three winners.

Charles Wright continued the fine form that prompted Garry May to sign him in the first place, as he shot from the tapes to lead up Kasper Lykke and Josh Bates.

The slow starting Oliver Greenwood was soon pressuring the Rockets Duo, however they blocked him out, and he could never improve his position.

One time Rebel, and recent guest for the home side, Anders Mellgren showed that he still knows the fastest way around the Highbridge circuit, as he jumped from the tapes in company with Josh Grajczonek, and moved him wide in the opening turn, before leading into the back straight. As Mellgren went onto an easy victory, Charles Wright chased down Kasper Lykke, and smoothly cruised by him on the opening turns of the second lap.

That was about as good as it got for the Rockets, as the Rebels now went in to overdrive, and proceeded to grind the visitors into the Oak Tree shale, in an unrelenting display of pressure speedway.

The Rebels then went on to win nine of the next ten heats; scooping maximum heat victories in four of those heats.

Jason Doyle was the Rebels' top rider, as he finished with 18 points, putting them in prime position for silverware in the second-leg.