Speedway and Motorsport

Danny Warwick in heat eight

Somerset Rebels 52-42 Isle of Wight Islanders

The manner of the victory was somewhat more convincing than the final scoreline might suggest.

The home side started like the proverbial house on fire as they notched up two maximum heat victories in the opening two heats, and by the halfway stage had established a 12-point lead, the only 'blip' coming in heat five when the Holder/Phillips partnership made an excellent gate to record a 5-1 of their own. 

Tomas Suchanek in heat 14

Entering the last third of the match, the Rebels had maintained their 12-point lead, only to see this cut back to nine.

Holder took his second heat win for the visitors whilst on a tactical ride, but with his partner, Phillips, excluded from the first running of the heat for bringing down Ritchie Hawkins, the Islanders were not able to fully capitalise on the double-point move.

Two further drawn heats ensued, before the Islanders gave a last throw of the die, bringing out Bunyan as a tactical substitute in heat 14.

Although he made light work of passing Suchanek, he was not able to find a way past Somerset reserve, Jordan Frampton, who rode a very mature race to hold on to his match-clinching second place.

With Zetterstrom then rounding off the meeting with his third home maximum of the season, and Kramer holding off a determined challenge from Holder for second place, the Rebels emerged victorious, much to the relief of the home fans!