The Falcons steamed to a 10-point lead in the opening few heats with Mark Lemon, Nick Simmons, and Lee Smethills winning for the home side. Only Jason King, in heat two, prevented the Falcons from opening up with three maximum heat victories. It wasn't until the next heat, when the Rebels' skipper, Magnus 'Zorro' Zetterstrom, steadied the ship by taking a win, and a share of the points. The following heat saw the Falcons again take the upper hand with a 4-2 heat win. This time it was Glenn Cunningham who stopped the maximum scoreline. Paul Fry and his partner Ritchie Hawkins took the minor places to share the next heat 3-3, behind the Falcons' skipper, Seemond Stephens. Tactical rides Heat eight saw the Rebels' team manager Mick Bell throw young reserve Jason King on a tactical ride. Mick repeated the dose in the next heat by sending out Glenn Cunningham in the black and white helmet colours. A flying start by the two home riders saw them round the first two turns in front. Just when it seemed that all was lost, Toni Svab, Exeter's Czech International, suffered engine problems, and retired from the race. This left Cunningham, and Lee Smart to take the minor placings, and a 3-5 heat advantage. A fighting Somerset team Now only eight points behind, and with the bonus point back on, the next three heats saw the Somerset team come out fighting. They took two heat wins in heats 10 and 11, including a 4-2 heat advantage, and a share of the points in heat 12, which again saw Toni Svab suffer machinery problems. Heat 11 also saw the only fall of the day. Exeter's Nick Simmons took a wide line out of the last bend on lap three, whilst he was chasing hard after Jamie Smith. He hit the fence and took a hefty tumble, but was soon back on his feet. A fast start by both Falcons riders in heat 13 put them in a strong position. Glenn Cunningham made a sweep around Exeter's top rider, Mark Lemon, although he was held up long enough for Exeter's Seemond Stephens to steal away the lead. Cunningham never gave up, but could not peg back Stephens' lead. Heat 14 saw Ondrasik replace his fellow reserve, Nick Simmons. Again Mick Bell went down the tactical route by introducing Zorro as a golden double tactical substitute, off a 15-metre handicap. Paul Fry, needing to make the start, was caught in a pretty robust pincer manoeuvre by the two Exeter riders, and couldn't get to the front. This left him chasing Svab, to try to get in front to slow it up for Zorro, but the damage had been done, and the Rebels were left with only Fry's two points for their efforts. Rebels secure the bonus point Back to 10 points down and the prospect of a tough heat 15 clash with Lemon and Stephens. The bonus point was now in doubt. Mick Bell turned to Fry and Cunningham to pull the match out of the fire. As the tape went up they flew to the first bend, and for a fleeting moment a 5-1 seemed on the cards. Fry inside Lemon, Cunningham outside, and Stephens close behind. Lemon just kept out Fry off the second bend, but had no answer to the now flying Cunningham on his outside. Glenn Cunningham stormed away to take the heat in 68.30, the fastest time of the day, with Fry taking third from the now tailed-off Stephens. A 4-2 heat advantage secured the bonus point for the Somerset Rebels. All in all, this was a great team performance. A loss by 51-43, but enough to secure what is hoped to be the first bonus point of many this season. | 
