LYNN slipped to a maiden Premier League home defeat of the season last night against a well-drilled Somerset at the Norfolk Arena.

King’s Lynn 45, Somerset 48

LYNN slipped to a maiden Premier League home defeat of the season Wednesday night against a well-drilled Somerset at the Norfolk Arena.

Olly Allen continued his heavy points-scoring form since his Saddlebow return, along with solid support from Kozza Smith and club skipper Tomas Topinka, but Lynn’s youthful reserves were exposed.

Jamie Courtney and home debutant Jake Knight battled heroically against a vastly more experienced visiting septet, headed by another Norfolk Arena cameo from old boy Shane Parker. Lynn’s management now look set to strengthen the champions’ bottom end ahead of new revised averages to try and launch a late season bid for play-off or Young Shield glory.

Allen oozed class in the opener but Adam Roynon was doubled teamed by the Rebels’ duo Cory Gathercole and Ritchie Hawkins in behind.

Somerset’s wily reserve James Holder dictated the next, with Kyle Howarth an able deputy, as Courtney and Knight struggled. Smith, fresh from a recent eye-catching Elite League display at Ipswich, flew from the traps with Danish talent Lasse Bjerre in his slipstream but Sam Masters dived around the teenager to split the home duo.

Topinka and Parker turned back the clock in a battle of the old stagers - the home favourite dictating in the early sparring before Parker prevailed in the closing stages.

Gathercole stunned Smith and Bjerre to propel himself around the bottom bend in heat five and preserve Somerset’s early four point lead.

Allen hit back with Parker repelling the attentions of Roynon but the impressive Masters anchored a painful away maximum for the home fans - Topinka held up by Christian Hefenbrock.

Ritchie Hawkins trapped ahead of Roynon before Parker’s rapier gate moved Somerset ten clear - Bjerre failing in a valiant last bend attack to overhaul Holder.

Lyon rallied his troops for a mid-meeting team meeting which reaped instant dividends when Allen anchored a rare black and white tactical success for Lynn on home shale.

Topinka fed off new found energy emanating from the home pits to subdue Gathercole but Masters coolly dispatched Bjerre to quell the Stars’ fightback. Topinka then exacted a sliver of revenge on Parker in a high class heat 13 which was also notable for Allen’s first Norfolk Arena defeat since his recent return.

Smith and Courtney looked set to give the beleaguered home fans late cheer before Hefenbrock swung around the outside of the raw reserve. Masters then rocketed out of the final turn of the meeting to split Topinka and Allen in the finale.

Stars: Allen 14, Roynon 3, Bjerre 4+1, Smith 10, Topinka 12, Courtney 2, Knight 0.

Rebels: Gathercole 5+2, Hawkins 7, Masters 12, Hefenbrock 5+2, Parker 10, Holder 5, Howarth 4+1.