The Cases Somerset Rebels kept a grip on top spot in the Premier League with a 51-39 victory over Newcastle.

THE Cases Somerset Rebels maintained top spot in the Premier League with a 51-39 home victory over Newcastle at the Oaktree Arena.

The first half of the meeting proved quite close, but the Rebels opened up a gap in heat eight when visiting skipper Ludvig Lindgren came to grief.

The visitors’ Lewis Kerr also fell in heat 11 when Newcastle were just two points behind. But this sparked a run of three more 5-1 heat wins for Somerset in just four races to clinch victory.

For the home side, top score went to Paul Starke, who prior to the nominated heat was on a paid maximum, and finished his night with 13+2, a performance that earned him the rider of the night award from Graham Mottram of sponsors the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

Leigh Lanham also had a superb night (11+1), backed up by Josh Grajczonek (10+1) and Charles Wright (7+2).

The next action at the Oak Tree Arena will be next Friday, as the Rebels take on the Rye House Rockets.

Rebels number 1 Brady Kurtz, has qualified for speedway’s Under-21 World Championship final after finishing in fifth place in his qualifying meeting in Pardubice, Czech Republic.

The final, which will be decided over three meetings in Lonigo (Italy), Lubin (Poland) and Pardubice (Czech Republic), will be held later this season.