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ROCKETS WIN ON DAY AS REBELS LIFT CUP
Sunday October 06, 2013
While never likely to over-turn a hefty 28 point deficit from the tie’s first leg, the Silver Ski Rockets were able to sign off their 2013 campaign on a positive note by heading home the No.1 seeds for the Championship Play-Offs 46-44 in the return match.
A combination of sharp gating by the Rebels – Jason Doyle won the opening heat in a time of 55.6 seconds that was just half a second outside Chris Neath’s all-time Hoddesdon track record – and a lack of race wins left the Rockets behind in the early stages. Anders Mellgren sparked the turn-around, however, with 4-2s based around his two successes bringing Rye level at 21-21 and then three successive 5-1s suddenly propelling the Rockets ahead to 36-24.
The first was delivered by Pontus Aspgren and Ben Morley in a Heat 8 that was re-run after Kyle Newman had fallen, while the second came from Tyson Nelson and Jason Bunyan after Nick Morris had clipped Nelson’s rear wheel in a third lap battle for supremacy.
The hat-trick was completed when race leader Alex Davies inexplicably fell on the final lap of Heat 10 to gift Aspgren and Olly Allen the major points.
Jason Doyle and Kyle Newman’s 4-2 response in Heat 11 stemmed the tide and finally clinched the aggregate success for Somerset, and the Rebels continued to reel in their hosts to set up a last race decider for the day’s outcome too, at 44-40. Josh Gracjconek won that finale, but Mellgren kept Morris behind him to ensure that the Rockets closed out their season with a much needed match victory.
Somerset skipper Jason Doyle – who dished out four straight wins to complete a remarkable Cup Final record of ten out of ten – collected the trophy afterwards on behalf of the Rebels.
Some had expected a containing job from his team given the decisive first leg score-line, but the Rebels matched that tenacity here. “We know how the Rye boys are good on their own track, and they showed that today. But we really came out in force too.â€
On a personal level, it has been a terrific 2013 for the Australian, who has already posted a 10 point Premier League record, an 8 point Elite League one, finished third in the PLRC and first in the Pairs, and collected a Bronze medal in the World Cup. “After the season, when I look back I’ll definitely rank it as one of the very best ones I’ve had. Hopefully I can stay injury-free; that’s why I didn’t go out in Heat 15 because I want to finally make the Play-Offs.†(Doyle was forced to sit out both the 2012 Premier and Elite League deciders though injury.)
Somerset missed out on last year’s gold in a heart-breaking last heat decider at Scunthorpe, and Doyle is determined to make amends this time around. “It would mean a lot to the Hancock family to finally lift the title. That’s the one we haven’t got in the cabinet, so that’s what we’re going for.â€
While missing out 103-77 on aggregate, Sunday’s result did much to restore the Rockets’ pride after their previous League stumble against Redcar. Captain Jason Bunyan summed up the match in a way that also subtly emphasised both his personal role in the team and the weather that has blighted the sport in recent seasons. “It was very important to get the win after last week. It was never realistic to get the (first leg) points back, but it was nice to finish the season riding on a sunny day with your mates.â€
About the Rockets’ injury-strewn campaign, he continued, “Speedway is full of challenges; it’s what makes you a good or bad rider. We’ve certainly had plenty of challenges this year.
“The team was really built around Jason Garrity, and after he was injured the rest of us just had to do our best to fill what was a big gap. The side has been excellent, with a great team spirit. To prove the point, Simon Lambert turned up every week (to help out in the pits) even when he was injured. That tells you all about the attitude in this team.â€
Rye House scorers:
Anders Mellgren 10, Tyson Nelson 8+1, Olly Allen 7+1, Pontus Aspgren 7+1, Jason Bunyan 7+1, Ben Morley (guest) 4+2, Kasper Lykke 3.
Somerset scorers: Jason Doyle 12, Josh Grajczonek 10, Charles Wright 9, Nick Morris 6+1, Alex Davies 4+1, Kyle Newman 2, Oliver Greenwood (guest) 1.
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