Double blow for Somerset Rebels (From This is The West Country)

Double blow for Somerset Rebels

9:10am Friday 8th June 2012 in Sport

Premier League Sheffield 48, Somerset Rebels 45 SOMERSET Rebels faced a double blow as they lost by three points to Sheffield and the services of Danish rider Claus Vissing following a nasty looking crash on Thursday.

Vissing, Ashley Birks, Sam Masters, Jason Doyle and Alex Davies all won the first five heats to send the Rebels into a 20-10 lead in a perfect start.

But Sheffield hit back as they reached for the black and white helmet colour to take an 8-1 win in heat six.

Two maximum 5-1 wins in heat 10 and 11 turned the match on its head as Sheffield took the lead and then Vissing’s injury tainted the evening for the Rebels.

With the result in the balance and Rebels leading 44-43 going into the final heat, the home side pulled out all the stops to claim a maximum heat win to claim the overall win.

Premier League Knock Out Cup first round second leg Somerset Rebels 47 (89), Ipswich Witches 43 (91) The Rebels were five riders down on Saturday– four away on FIM World U21 Championship Semi-Final duty and Claus Vissing who is expected to be absent through injury until next month.

They were always chasing the scores after two maximum 5-1 wins for visitors Ipswich in the first five heats.

Auty and James Wright claimed 5-1 wins in heats nine and 10 to put the Rebels ahead on the night but still trailing by four points on aggregate.

But Ipswich battled hard and despite further heat wins for Auty and Jason Doyle, the Rebels finished 47-43 winners on the night but lost by two points over the two legs.

The Rebels welcome the Berwick Bandits to the Oaktree Arena on Friday with the action getting underway at 7.30pm.