Highbridge-based speedway team the Somerset Rebels will have a busy Easter period with the club racing in three matches over a two-day period, starting with back-to-back matches against the Poole Pirates on Good Friday (14th), with the evening match at the Oaktree Arena being a ‘kids go free’ special for those aged 11 and under, while the first 50 children through the turnstiles will also receive a free Easter-Egg.
The Rebels make the relatively short trip to the South Coast for an 11am start at Poole’s Wimborne Road track, before the two teams reconvene at the Oaktree Arena at 7.30pm that evening for the return fixture, and if that is not taxing enough for both man and machine, Somerset then head to the East Midlands the following day for the 2nd leg of their KO Cup tie against Leicester, the Rebels holding an eight-point lead from Friday night’s 1st leg.
Unfortunately for the Pirates, they will arrive at the Oaktree Arena minus their number 1, Pole Krzysztof Kasprzak, who is riding in the Polish Golden Helmet Final, but Poole have a more than worthy guest in his place, they having secured the services of British Champion Danny King, who scored paid 14 for Leicester when they visited the Oaktree Arena last Friday.
Captaining the side is Dane Hans Andersen, while there is a rider very familiar to Somerset fans amongst the Poole ranks, namely Brady Kurtz, who spent two years in Rebels’ colours with the Pirates top 5 completed by Kurtz’s fellow Australian, Jack Holder and British rider Lewis Kerr, who was signed by Poole as a short-term injury replacement for another ex-Rebel, Kyle Newman.
At reserve, Poole track Dane Nicolai Klindt, who has been piling up the points so far this year and young British rider James Shanes.
Somerset go into the two matches against the Pirates with a full strength septet, and as well as picking up their first league points of the season, Somerset are looking to encourage the younger element to attend Good Friday’s match as club promoter Debbie Hancock explains;
“We are making Good Friday’s home match against Poole a ‘kids go free’ event for those aged 11 and under, in addition the first 50 children through the turnstiles will also receive a free Easter-Egg.”
“We would love to see the Oaktree Arena packed out for what will be a real ‘glamour’ meeting for the club, and I am sure that a good number of Poole fans will be looking to make the relatively short journey up to support their team, just as I know that there are many Somerset fans planning to travel down to Poole for the morning fixture between the two side.”
“Poole, however, never put together a poor side as their record of 4 league titles in the past 6 years bears testament to, but now that the Somerset boys have a few matches under their belts, I am sure that we are more than capable of picking up some league points from these two matches.”
Following their Good Friday ‘double header’, the ‘Cases’ Somerset Rebels travel to Leicester on Easter Saturday for the 2nd leg of their KO Cup tie against the Lions with Somerset holding that 8-point lead from last Friday’s 1st leg at the Oaktree Arena.
“The 8 point lead we have from the 1st leg gives us something to defend when we go to Leicester for Saturday’s 2nd leg,” said Rebels team manager Garry May, “but in saying that, rather than look to defend that lead, we will be going to Leicester with the aim of winning the match as in my book, attack is the best form of defence!”
The Rebels will be without Paul Starke for their trip to the East Midlands as he is required to ride for Peterborough, his Championship side, and so Somerset have booked the very much in-form Nicolai Klindt as his guest replacement.
