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Stoke Potters v Somerset Rebels
Premier League, 07 May 2005
Loomer Road, Stoke

Stoke 48
1Alan Mogridge21*31*0 ..72
2Paul Clews1*232*. ..82
3Peter Carr321*3. ..91
4Robbie KesslerFx1*22*. ..52
5(g)Rusty Harrison23321 ..110
6Rob Grant100.. ..10
7Barrie Evans002*2*3 ..72
Somerset 42
1Magnus Zetterstrom33202* ..101
3Ritchie Hawkins1*1*101 ..42
4Paul Fry2210. ..50
5Glenn Cunningham13333 ..130
6Lee Smart0300. ..30
7Jason King2*3001* 0172

* = BP. ^ = TR . ! = TS (15m Handicap). # = TR (Points Not Doubled). & = TS (Points Not Doubled, 15m Handicap).

The unfortunate Jan Staechmann, after a long spell on the injury list, has had to withdraw from the Stoke side again possibly for the rest of the season. Tonight in his place Rusty Harrison was again the guest this time at number 5. Somerset were missing Jaimie Smith and used Rider Replacement at number 2. This was the Rebels’ second Premier League match in two days having lost at home to Workington last night.

It didn’t start well for the Potters as Somerset were quickly into their stride. After a shared opening heat won by Magnus Zetterstrom, Somerset struck with a 1-5 in the reserves race for a four point lead. Peter Carr won heat 3 after Robbie Kessler had fallen and been excluded for another shared heat then Somerset went further ahead in heat 4. Jason King beat Rusty Harrison with Glenn Cunningham third. The 2-4 took the score after heat 4 to 9-15.

The next three heats were shared before Stoke hit back with a 5-1 in heat 8 from Paul Clews and Barrie Evans from Ritchie Hawkins and Jason King. This reduced the gap to two points at 23-25. Glenn Cunningham won heat 9 from Kessler and Carr but Stoke wiped out the deficit and took the lead with a 5-1 in heat 10 from Alan Mogridge and Paul Clews. Stoke were now in front at 31-29.

Rusty Harrison beat Magnus Zetterstrom for a shared heat 11 and Stoke followed up with another 5-1 in heat 12 from Peter Carr and Barrie Evans to go six up at 39-33. Glenn Cunningham won heat 13 to keep the Rebels in the match but it was all over with another Potters’ 5-1 in heat 14 from Barrie Evans and Robbie Kessler from King and Fry. Stoke were now 10 points in front and it was just as well because Glenn Cunningham and Magnus Zetterstrom finished with a 1-5 to reduce the gap to six points making the bonus point a precarious target for Stoke later in the season.

Match Report by Merlin