Rebels cruise to easy victory

Somerset Rebels 56

Newport Wasps 36

THE final Premier Trophy match of the season, at the Oak Tree Arena, saw the Somerset Sharp Rebels cruise to an easy 20-point victory over a lack-lustre Newport Wasps side that included four former full-time Rebels, in what was really a dead rubber.

Neither side have any chance of progressing to the semi-finals, but the Rebels signed off on the Trophy with a bit of local pride.

With new averages recently coming into effect, the Rebels shuffled their rider order, with Emil Kramer moving to the Number 1 spot, as he headed the averages.

Cory Gathercole filled Kramer's old spot at four, and captain Steve Johnston slotted into Gathercole's vacated number five position, with the two reserves also changing positions.

Kramer marked his promotion with a lightning start in Heat 1, as he led from team mate Justin Sedgmen, who was soon passed by the Wasps pair of Mark Lemon and Paul Fry, but he fought back to pass Fry. He held that position, until Fry attacked on the outside and passed with a neat inside move on the third turn to share the points.

James Holder took Heat 2 for the Wasps, as he made the better start to lead from Jay Herne. Tom Brown recovered from a slow start, to pass Kyle Newman on the first turn, and chase home Holder for another shared heat.

The Rebels made their first decisive move in Heat 3, as the new pairing of Walker and Gathercole outpaced their rivals into the first turn. Walker eased to the front off the fourth bend, Chris Kerr was close up behind Gathercole for the early laps, but Gathercole took an easy second spot. Brent Werner was tailed off at the rear from Lap 2, and never got in a blow.

Heat 4 was called back after Jay Herne came to grief on the opening bend and referee Margaret Vardy called an unsatisfactory start, and put all four back.

Steve Johnston ended up behind the Wasps pair on the opening turns. He got on terms with Jordan Frampton on Lap 2, and swooped around the outside to grab second place. Not content with that he passed James Holder less than a lap later, to win with something in hand.

Two more shared heats followed, with Cory Gathercole taking Heat 5. Trapping in third place behind the Wasps Lemon and Fry he led into the back straight before pulling clear to win with some ease. Simon Walker chased hard, trying all lines to close, but could never make an impression on the Wasps pair, as the heat points were shared.

Jordan Frampton recovered from his disappointing opening ride to trap alongside Emil Kramer, and was in front at the first turn. Justin Sedgmen was also close up, and Milduran swapped places with Kramer a couple of times, before Kramer closed up on. The run looked to have paid dividends until Frampton shut the door, and gave Kramer little choice but to shut the throttle. It was enough to give Frampton the spoils for Heat 6.

Tom Brown took second spot in the first of three 5-1s in Heat 7. Making a flying start off the outside gate, Brown was into the opening bend alongside captain, Steve Johnston.

Chris Kerr tried to force Brown wide, but the Welshman stayed on the throttle, and hit back, clamping Kerr hard to the kerb on the third turn. Johno was away, and gone, with Brown running to an easy second place.

With the Rebels eight points to the good, Heat 8 was shared Jay Herne winning from Paul Fry and Justin Sedgmen was close up early on, but trailed in over the latter stages with what sounded like a sick engine.

Jordan Frampton was back on the winning trail in Heat 9 as he rocketed from the gate with Cory Gathercole at his side. Gathercole was consigned to second place after the first turn. Once at the front, Frampton won comfortably, as Simon Walker took third place from Kyle Newman to share the points.

The eighth shared heat from 10 followed, but this time the Rebels supplied the winner as Emil Kramer came from behind Brent Werner to take the win. Chris Kerr shared the points after getting the better of Justin Sedgmen on the second lap.

In Heat 11, Steve Johnston and Tom Brown added a second 5-1 to their earlier maximum, but not before having to do it twice after Paul Fry brought down team mate Mark Lemon. Fry was excluded and not Lemon, as it is generally accepted that you are not excluded for bringing down a team mate.

In the re-run Johnston again made the gate and with Lemon on his outside he ran wide, leaving a huge gap for Brown to exploit. Once there the pair pulled away from Lemon, who never got in a blow after the opening turns.

The Rebels added another 5-1 immediately as Simon Walker took Heat 12 from Jay Herne. Kyle Newman's engine expired in a cloud of smoke and Brent Werner never landed a blow.

Now 16 points down, Lawrence Rogers made his first tactical move, sending out former Rebels favourite Jordan Frampton in the Black and White in Heat 13.

Mark Lemon made the gate, forcing Emil Kramer wide whileJordan Frampton was doing likewise with Steve Johnston. Kramer took the lead from Lemon and behind them Johnston shut off to drop in behind. Lemon, Frampton and Johnston engaged in four tight laps, with never much between the trio. Frampton made his way to second spot, and took four points from his tactical ride, which gave the Wasps their first and only heat advantage on the night.

Despite the Wasps heat advantage, the Rebels were in full control, and they underlined that with another 5-1 in Heat 14.

Tom Brownwas involved in a maximum for the third time. Another lightning start saw him enter the first turn with Cory Gathercole at his side and he took the lead with Brown close up.

Chris Kerr threw in a challenge to Brown and then switched his attentions to the outside over the last two laps. No matter what he tried Kerr was never good enough to find a way round Brown, and what made it worse for the Wasps was that Lawrence Rogers had used his second tactical rider, James Holder, who finished stone last, never having gotten into the race.

With the result now beyond doubt, the Rebels tracked Emil Kramer and Steve Johnston in the nominated heat. The Wasps went with Mark Lemon and Jordan Frampton. Lemon threw away any chance he had with a big lift at the start, while Frampton employed the wide running forcing tactic on Emil Kramer.

In the meantime, Steve Johnston was making the best of his way home, despite some early attention from Lemon. Kramer also recovered from his early excursion to the outer reaches of the circuit, and closed on Frampton, before executing aninside pass on his former team mate. The resulting 4-2 advantage gave the Rebels a comfortable 20-point victory, and the local bragging rights to finish off their Premier Trophy campaign.

Next home match is on Friday, May 29, v Berwick in the Premier League. Tapes up 7:30pm.