Motorsport

Paul Fry

M4 Challenge Trophy: Newport 50-46 Somerset Rebels

The afternoon of Sunday 14 March saw the Somerset Rebels at local rivals Newport Wasps for the first leg of the M4 Challenge Trophy.

The large Rebel following feared the worst as they saw their team fall 10 points behind after only four heats, but, leading by example, Magnus Zetterstrom secured a double point tactical ride victory in heat five to keep Somerset in the hunt.

This was followed up five races later, when Paul Fry (taking a tactical ride) and Richie Hawkins, Somerset's British under-21 Champion, combined for a crucial 8-1 heat victory that brought the Rebels to within two points of the Wasps.

Fry then teamed up with young reserve Jason King to score another 5-1 maximum heat victory in heat 14, which brought the scores level at 45-45 with just one heat remaining.

Somerset hopes of snatching victory were high with the impressive Zetterstrom and Fry coming to the tapes.

Their hopes were dashed, however, as unbeaten Wasp Craig Watson won his fifth race of the match to seal a close won victory with a 15 point maximum. Watson was followed home by his Danish team-mate, Mads Korneliussen.

With the return leg of this challenge trophy being staged at Somerset's Oak Tree Arena on Friday 18 March, the Rebels must be quietly confident of securing their first silverware of the new 2005 campaign.