The Highbridge-based Somerset Rebels speedway team won the League Cup for the second time on Friday night (October 14th).
The win came after the second-leg demolition of the Glasgow Tigers at the Oaktree Arena.
The Rebels had gone into Friday’s match already six points to the good, having won the first leg at Glasgow’s Ashfield Stadium 48-42 last Sunday.
Any hopes Glasgow might have harboured of overturning that first leg deficit disappeared as early as heat 1 when Jake Allen and Rohan Tungate sped away for an opening 5-1 heat win for the Rebels.
From thereon in it was virtually one-way traffic as Somerset proceeded to pile on the agony for the beleaguered Tigers.
By the time the match had reached its halfway stage, the match, and with it the destiny of the League Cup, was already an almost forgone conclusion with Somerset having opened up a 16 point lead on the night.
Somewhat fittingly, Rebels skipper Josh Grajczonek took the chequered flag to win heat 11, and it was the cue for celebrations to commence as it was confirmed that the League Cup would be residing at the Oaktree Arena for the forthcoming year.
“The boys have really worked hard for this and they deserve great credit in bringing the League Cup back to Somerset,” said a delighted Somerset team manager, Garry May, afterwards.
“Once we hit home that 5-1 in heat 1, you could see that there was only ever going to be one team lifting that trophy, and so it proved.”
“The boys did the hard graft at Glasgow on Sunday, and to come away from there with a 6 point lead was a great achievement, and one which really stunned the Tigers.”
“Every one of the team were absolutely tremendous tonight, and hopefully they will be making it a double when they contest the Championship Grand Final against either Sheffield or Glasgow the week after next. But that is for later, for now, we will just enjoy the moment of tonight’s success!”
Pictured: The celebrations underway last night and, above, Somerset’s Rohan Tungate and Jake Allen on their way to their opening heat 5-1 over the Glasgow duo of Richie Worrall & Nike Lunna (photos: Colin Burnett)
