Rebel Yell!

PREVIEW Wednesday 17th August 2016, 5:44pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Monarchs start a busy spell of 3 matches in 3 days tonight as we head to the Oak Tree Arena to take on the Somerset Cases Rebels in Premier League action.

The Rebels have been the form team of the season so far being as they raced to 14 wins in their first 14 fixtures a remarkable achievement run that only came to an end last Thursday away to Sheffield.

Many thought the Rebels had taken a gamble to many at the start of the season and in fact they were tipped by the experts to finish outside of the playoff positions in the annual season preview edition of the Speedway Star (although we all know how reliable that can be, 10th yer baws as one well know fan may say!)

As it has turned out the Rebels made the perfect team selections bringing in untested but highly promising youngsters at reserve and backing this up with a few experienced Oak Tree campaigners in the main body of the team. It truly is a testament to Garry May, Debbie Hancock and all involved at the Rebels that once again they are at the sharp end of the league table gunning for further team success to add to their Pairs victory back in July.

Leading the line for the Rebels is popular Aussie Josh Grajczonek. The Scrabbleman as he is affectionately known is now remarkably into his tenth season in British Speedway (that makes me feel old) having first arrived on these shores with Glasgow in 2008. Still only 26 the Queenslander is having perhaps his best season in the sport having pushed his average over 9 and appearing in the World Cup Final for Australia after Max Fricke’s unfortunate injury in the runoff. Josh himself is making his return after a small layoff after picking up a leg injury at Sheffield last week.

Number 2 for the Rebels is another young Aussie this time it’s Jake Allen. Allen was due to make his debut for Berwick last season but a cock up with the averages meant he had to sit out the year. Berwick’s loss has been Somerset’s gain as the Brisbane born racer has been perhaps the most impressive newcomer in the league this year. His all action style and fast starting having him sitting on a average in excess of 6.5 which when you look at the list of previous newcomers and what they averaged in their first year is very impressive indeed.

R/R takes the place of the crocked Charles Wright at number 3, the former Monarch being another who came a cropper at Sheffield last Thursday. Charles is currently third in Somerset’s averages allowing all bar Grajczonek an extra outing if required.

The spine of the Somerset team is made up of another of the experienced Oak Tree middle order now in his 3rd season with the Rebels and still improving year on year. Starke is now an accomplished performer and on his day he is a match for anyone, his recent double figure performance at the British Final attesting to that.

The third of a hat-trick of Aussies in the Rebels line-up is at Number 5 Rohan Tungate. Tungate perhaps appeared to be stalling a little after showing undoubted potential in his early Speedway career but the move to Somerset appears to have re-invigorated the 26 year old and he is another who is having his best year on these shores. Tungate has definitely found the wide open spaces of the Oak Tree Arena to his liking and his speed round the home shale was on show never more so than when joining Grajczonek in lifting the aforementioned Pairs Championship.

Number 6 for the home men is young Kiwi Bradley Wilson-Dean. There was a battle for Bradley’s signature before the season after his starring role in the National League last season. Somerset were his choice and they must be delighted by this as he is another newcomer who has surpassed his 5 point starting assessed average.

Joining Wilson-Dean at reserve is a guest replacement in James Shanes. Shanes replacing Zach Wajtknecht in the Rebels Line-up. Shanes currently rides for Kent in the National League and was crowned the British Masters Grasstrack Champion at the weekend. A little inexperienced at this level but no doubt one to look out for and he will look to impress tonight.

Weirdly for all the success the Rebels have had over the last few years Somerset is actually a venue that holds little fear for the Border Roofing Monarchs having recorded 2 victories and 3 40+ losing scores in our last 7 visits. Couple that with our pairs win and second places over the last 3 years and we have a team with plenty of pedigree around the Oak Tree Arena.

Of course those 2 victories were both in front of the Sky camera’s and were two of the most exciting matches seen on the box in recent seasons.

Sam is the most experienced of our line-up round the Oak Tree being as he is a former Somerset rider. Kevin and Ryan both have double figure returns to their name from previous visits and can forget Erik’s magnificent 14 point debut haul last season. If our top 4 can maintain this level of performance and the bottom 3 can chip in with some points who knows what we are capable tonight.

It will be a tough order that’s for sure as Somerset have been invincible around their home track so far this season but an interesting tussle lies ahead as we look to keep picking up valuable away points and cement our place in the playoffs come seasons end.

Full Result Details