The Somerset Rebels drew level on points with Ipswich and Scunthorpe after a hard fought 51-39 victory away at Sheffield Tigers. The 4 point win puts the rebels right in the hunt at the top of the Premier League table with meetings in hand.

Young Australian Brady Kurtz led from the front for the rebels only dropping 2 points on his route to 13 on the night. Nick Morris 9, Olly Allen 9, Chris Wright 6 + 2 all helped Somerset to the maximum away win after they have struggled on the road this season.

The Tigers riding with their injury struck side relied heavily on their very own young Australian, Taylor Poole. The Aussie who returned to England in 2014 after a one year absence scored 16 + 1 on the night whilst Leigh Lanham 2 + 1, Ty Proctor 2 and Josh Bates 1 were not 100%; with Lanham inclusion a surprise after a heavy crash at Edinburgh last week. Their injury problems got even worse in heat 14 with the home side on a potential 4-2 closing the gap to just 4 points. Andre Compton was leading on the very last bend of the race but his bike malfunctioned caused the home rider to plow straight in the air fence needing medical assistance. Exactly what the home team didn’t need with the return meeting at Somerset tonight. In truth the Sheffield injuries proved too much to overcome with the rebels taking full advantage to take the maximum 4 away points. Sheffield stay 12th on 11 points, 4 behind Plymouth.

Scores:

Sheffield Tigers: Poole 16+1, Lawson 8+1, Compton 8, WIlson 3, Lanham 2+1, Proctor 2, Bates 0

Somerset Rebels: B. Kurtz 13, Morris 9+1, Allen 9, Wright 6+2, Starke 6+1, Aspgren 5+1, T Kurtz 3+1