Speedway and Motorsport

Both sides were depleted following injuries sustained to riders in the previous evening's meeting at the Oak Tree Arena that caused it to be abandoned after just three heats.

Stoke brought in Ricky Ashworth and Tony Atkin for their injured duo of Glenn Cunningham and Ben Barker. The Potters operated rider replacement for Garry Stead.

For the Rebels, they also used the rider-replacement facility for Jordan Frampton, who was suffering from a broken tibia.

It was the Rebels who took the early advantage, providing four out of the first five heat-winners as they opened up a six-point lead after those initial five races.

Reserve Danny Warwick looked especially impressive in his two heat-victories.

The Potters, however, gradually brought themselves back into the match, levelling the scores by heat nine.

They then took a four-point lead after a maximum heat victory in the following race.

Things were starting to look a bit grim for Somerset, but the 2007 Rebels are made of stern stuff.

Rather than let their heads drop, the team re-grouped to hit back in the next three heats, outscoring the home riders 14 points to four to re-establish their six-point advantage.

A maximum heat win for Emil Kramer and Simon Walker in heat 12 was matched by Ritchie Hawkins and Magnus Zetterstrom a race later.

With the match all but safe, Hawkins made sure of the two points by winning heat 14.

Although Zetterstrom was harshly excluded from the first running of the final race, Emil Kramer rounded off an excellent night for the Rebels by winning the re-run to confirm Somerset's final six-point winning margin.

That sent a large contingent of travelling Somerset fans back down the motorway more than happy with their team's second away win in the Premier League in 2007.