The ‘Cases’ Somerset Rebels came back in style to overturn an early 6-point deficit to league leaders Wolverhampton and eventually run out 8-point winners on a night of some exceptional speedway action at the Oaktree Arena.
Wolverhampton shocked the home Somerset fans in the opening heat by running in a maximum 5-1 heat advantage, a lead which was further extended out to 6 points by the conclusion of heat 3.
The Rebels, however, refused to panic, and gradually clawed their way back into the match to level up the scores at 21-all as the match approached its half-way stage of affairs.
That was the cue for Somerset to take the match by the proverbial ‘scruff of the neck’, with the Rebels hitting their visitors hard with three successive maximum 5-1 heat advantages, which saw the home side open up a 12-point lead with the final third of the match remaining.
Wolverhampton’s use of the tactical substitute ride brought them limited success, it trimming Somerset’s lead back to 10 points, but a share of the spoils in heats 12 and 13 were sufficient to all but ensure the Rebels victory with 2 heats still remaining.
“I think tonight showed the true character of this Somerset team,” said Rebels team manager Garry May afterwards, “rather than buckle under the pressure of that early Wolverhampton lead, the boys just regrouped, got back to doing the basics, and we were a different side for the rest of the match.”
“Wolves are always a tough side to beat, and it is credit to all the lads in the team for the way they turned things around to take the win and keep us up there in the league table challenging for an all-important play-off position.”
SOMERSET 49: Jason Doyle 10+1, Charles Wright 10+1, Richard Lawson 9+1, Jake Allen 7, Jack Holder 6+1, Bradley Wilson-Dean 5+3, Jonas Jeppesen 2+1.
WOLVERHAMPTON 41: Jacob Thorssell 11+1, Rory Schlein 9+1, Kyle Howarth 6, Sam Masters 6, Cameron Heeps 5+1, Ashley Morris 4, Nathan Greaves 0.
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