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ROCKETS ROCK DEVILS
Saturday April 06, 2013
The 2013 Silver Ski Rockets continue to confound their critics. Just four days after losing two stalwarts to the sidelines, they proved that rumours of their demise have been greatly exaggerated by coasting to their first away win of the new campaign, 52-40 at Plymouth, and in so doing maintaining their push for a place in the League Cup Semi-Finals.
In front throughout following an opening race 5-1 from Olly Allen and Kasper Lykke, the Rockets effectively wrapped up the match with two further maximums – both featuring Jason Garrity, alongside Anders Mellgren and Allen respectively – in Heats 10 and 11, which took them clear from 28-26 to 38-28. Mellgren then saw off the Tactically nominated Mark Lemon in the next race, before Allen and Tyson Nelson hammered home one further 5-1 in a Heat 13 that was awarded after Ty Proctor had fallen in a desperate attempt to get past his fellow Aussie.
A glance at some of the individual stats highlights the Rockets’ overall control of the match. An hour’s delay to his flight from Sweden meant a mad dash by Anders Mellgren to get to the Devon circuit, but once there he then kept the speed up to make it three out of three for the year in terms of double figure hauls. Only a last race exclusion for bringing down rival Lemon stood between him and a possible full house.
Stand-in captain Olly Allen was unbeaten in his three completed rides, dropping his only points when he was disqualified after a Heat 5 tumble that could well have been attributed to a clip from Cory Gathercole.
Additionally, the three youngest protagonists of “Generation Next†all made it into double figures, with Kasper Lykke igniting his season with paid 14 from seven rides, Tyson Nelson enjoying a paid 14 evening that was marred only by a starting infringement and Jason Garrity easing to 8+2.
Ben Morley – covering for broken ankle victim Simon Lambert – contributed a hard worked paid second, and also suffered a snapped chain in his final outing.
As team manager John Sampford said afterwards, “Everyone contributed and gave everything. It meant that we were dominant from the start, and also from mid-match onwards.
It sets us up in the best possible way for tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) cruncher at home to Somerset. That one will be the real test, because the Rebels are a very good side, but we know the job we have to do to stop them.
“These next two matches against Somerset – at home tomorrow and away at the Oak Tree Arena next Friday – could be the ones that ultimately decide the outcome of the group.â€
Rye House scorers:
Olly Allen 9 (4 rides)
Jason Bunyan R/R
Anders Mellgren 12 (5)
Jason Garrity 8+2 (5)
Tyson Nelson 10+2 (5)
Kasper Lykke 12+2 (7)
Ben Morley 1+1 (4)
Plymouth scorers:
Ty Proctor 2+1 (4 rides)
Chris Schramm 3 (4)
Mark Lemon 12 (5 rides, inc 4 as a TR)
Cory Gathercole 5+2 (4)
Ricky Kling 6 (4)
Todd Kurtz 11 (6)
Ben Reade 1 (3)
Match Points: Plymouth 0 Rye House 4
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