Somerset Rebels suffer defeat by the Rye House Rockets.

THE Somerset Rebels travelled to Hoddesdon to take on the Rye House Rockets, but were well beaten in the end by 54-39.

The Rebels were once again unable to track their full one to seven, with Ty Proctor guesting for Travis McGowan (broken wrist), and a rider replacement being used for Christian Hefenbrock (broken ribs). On the plus side the match saw the debut, in Rebels colours, of newest recruit, Alex Davies, who replaces Kyle Hughes in the line up.

The Rebels started brightly enough, keeping the scores level in the first three heats, but the Rockets registered a 5-1 score in heat four. The points were shared in the next heat, with Ty Proctor and Dakota North taking the minor placings.

In heat six, Rockets skipper Chris Heath took the honours, chased home by Cory Gathercole. Heat 9 signalled changes for both sides, and a turning of the tide after a run of four shared heats, the Rockets taking a 4-2 win.

Another 4-2 followed in heat 10, where Frampton took the win from Masters, with Nelson holding off Davies for third.

Steve Boxall made it three wins in three rides as he took heat 11, after a prolonged battle with Proctor. Sam Masters took the heat 12 replacement ride, but Ritchie Hawkins and Tyson Nelson took a maximum for Rye House to leave the Rebels 12 points behind.

Proctor took the ‘Black and White’ in heat 13 and after three starts managed to come home in first spot, but Gathercole was left in last place.

That result had guaranteed the Rockets the match win, but the Rebels were still in with a chance of an away point, but Masters could only manage second place and with it went the Rebels chance of points.

The Rockets rounded off the meeting with a full house, as Proctor lifted at the start to leave Frampton and Chris Neath to lead Gathercole to the turn. Once in front they made the best of their way home, with Proctor toiling at the rear and eventually retiring on lap three, giving the Rockets a 54-39 win.

One pleasing aspect of the night was the performance of Alex Davies. After two low scoring efforts for Newport following his return from injury, his 5+2 from five rides more than doubled his return from his previous nine outings. Guest Ty Proctor top scored with 12-points backed up by Sam Masters (8+1) and Dakota North (7+4).

The Rebels take on Leicester in the Premier League tomorrow evening, tapes up 7.30pm.

The Rebels have made their first rider change of the season with Alex Davies, who was released by Newport, coming into the side in place of Kyle Hughes.

“Kyle informed the club shortly after last Friday’s match against Plymouth that he wanted to take a break from the sport,” explained Rebels promoter Debbie Hancock.