THE Cases Somerset Rebels will open their 2012 home season with the visit of Elite League Swindon Robins to the Oaktree Arena.

THE Cases Somerset Rebels will open their 2012 home season with the visit of Elite League Swindon Robins to the Oaktree Arena on March 23.

This will be the second leg of a challenge match against the Wiltshire side, the first leg being staged the previous night at Swindon’s Abbey Stadium.

“Swindon will be bringing their full Elite League team to the Oaktree, and will, therefore, include 2012 Grand Prix rider Hans Andersen, who will be flying out to New Zealand for the opening round of next year’s GP’s shortly afterwards, as well as the likes of Troy Batchelor and Simon Stead.

“The Rebels septet will be boosted with the inclusion of an Elite League guest rider at number one in order to ‘even’ things up a bit,” said Rebels promoter Debbie Hancock.

? SOMERSET’S Sam Masters made an excellent start to the 2012 Australian Speedway Championship with a fourth place finish in the opening round held at North Brisbane.

Despite not winning a heat in his five qualifying rides, his nine point tally was sufficient to take him through to the B final, the winner of which joined the three top scorers from the 20 qualifying heats in the A final.

Although originally headed by ex-Rebel Justin Sedgmen in the B final, Masters found his way past to take the chequered flag and book his place in the A final and, ultimately, his fourth place finish behind defending champion Chris Holder.

Result: Chris Holder; Davy Watt; Rohan Tungate; Sam Masters; Justin Sedgmen; Cameron Woodward; Taylor Poole; Cory Gathercole; Daine Stevens; Todd Kurtz; Kozza Smith; Robert Ksiezak; James Holder; Micky Dyer; Jake Anderson; Troy Batchelor.

The three-round series continues with round two at Kurri Kurri (NSW) on January 14 with the third and final round being staged at Gillman (South Australia) a week later.