SOMERSET REBELS 48 STOKE EASY RIDER POTTERS 42

STOKE Easy Rider Potters put up a valiant display before going down to a narrow 48-42 defeat against the Somerset Rebels in the Premier Trophy at the Oak Tree Arena last night.

 The Potters who were already without the injured Glen Phillips were reduced to just five riders after Phil Morris was ruled out of the match midway through the meeting due to concussion.

 The Easy Rider Potters were behind after heat one as Rebels skipper Steve Johnston and Justin Sedgmen took a 4-2 in the opening heat, Johnston going around the outside to get the better of Tom P Madsen. The Potters struck back in the next though to level the scores at 6-6 as Klaus Jakobsen headed home Rebels reserve and Stoke asset Tom Brown with Jesper Kristiansen taking third place for a 4-2 heat advantage for the Potters.

 Somerset went back in front in heat five as Emil Kramer and Simon Walker made the start but Madsen managed to overhaul Walker at the end of the first lap to take second place and split the Rebels pairing. 

Stoke’s Phil Morris seemed to be harshly disqualified in heat six when he fell on the first bend of lap two after Somerset’s Justin Sedgmen seemed to lift down the home straight while level with Morris, referee Christina Turnbull declaring that Morris was the primary cause of the stoppage.  Steve Johnston took victory in the rerun with Potters reserve Jesper Kristiansen having a great battle with Sedgmen with Kristiansen managing to hold off the home rider. The Rebels increasing their lead to four points with the score at 20-16.

 The Easy Rider Potters reduced the deficit to two points in heat eight with Madsen taking victory, the Rebels pairing of Jay Herne and Sedgmen were comfortable in second and third before Herne suffered an engine failure allowing Jakobsen to take third place and giving the Potters a 4-2 heat advantage, but the Rebels still held the lead 25-23. 

Kramer and Walker extended Somerset’s lead back up to four points with a 4-2 in heat nine with Kristiansen holding off Walker taking him wide to the fence at the end of lap three, Walker takes exception to the move and has words with Kristiansen after the race, the Rebels lead 29-25.

 Johnston and Sedgmen extended Somerset’s lead in heat ten with a 4-2 heat advantage home skipper Johnston having to pass Stoke’s Jason Bunyan coming off the final turn of lap one the Rebels leading by six points 33-27.

 Somerset’s Simon Walker was withdrawn from the meeting with a shoulder injury. 

Stoke got themselves right back into the meeting and reduced the deficit to just two points after twelve heats as Bunyan and Kristiansen out gated  Brown and Herne to secure the Potters first 5-1 heat advantage of the night leaving the score at 37-35.

 The Rebels immediately strike back though as Johnston and Cory Gathercole restore Somerset’s lead with a 5-1 over Lee Complin and Kristiansen, Gathercole overhauling Potters skipper Complin going outside him at the end of lap two. The Rebels lead 42-36 with two heats to go.

 Steve Johnston took victory in heat fifteen to complete his maximum and secure a victory for the Rebels but Madsen and Bunyan took the minor placings giving the Potters a point for their endeavours with the final score finishing 48-42.

 Potters team manager John Woolridge said “I’m pleased with a point although it may well have been more had we had a little bit of luck. “Lee (Complin) had a few problems with his bike and then we lost Phil (Morris) and with already using rider replacement for Glen Phillips we were up against it in the end, but I feel it is a good point and not many teams come away from here with a point. “We now have to get things right tomorrow when we face Scunthorpe at Loomer Road and bag all three points.”

 Scorers : Somerset 48: Steve Johnston 15, Cory Gathercole 11+1, Emil Kramer 11, Justin Sedgmen 5, Tom Brown 4+1, Simon Walker 2, Jay Herne 0

 Stoke 42: Tom P Madsen 13, Jason Bunyan 11+3, Jesper Kristiansen 9+1, Klaus Jakobsen 6, Lee Complin 2+1, Phil Morris 1+1, Glen Phillips (Rider Replacement)