Somerset 46, King's Lynn 44LYNN suffered fresh last heat misery at bogey club Somerset in their Premier Trophy South pool finale.Rebels' big guns Steve Johnston and Corey Gathercole edged out visiting youngsters Darcy Ward and impressive Swedish debutant Linus Eklof to pinch another home win.

Somerset 46, King's Lynn 44

LYNN suffered fresh last heat misery at bogey club Somerset in their Premier Trophy South pool finale.

Rebels' big guns Steve Johnston and Corey Gathercole edged out visiting youngsters Darcy Ward and impressive Swedish debutant Linus Eklof to pinch another home win.

Somerset's Aussie duo served up a last gasp repeat of the clubs' recent televised Premier League thriller at the Oak Tree Arena.

Rob Lyon's men maintained their impressive Premier Trophy away form by picking up another losing point - but that was scant consolation after dominating the meeting until the final four laps.

Table topping Lynn had already booked their semi final spot ahead of their latest West Country mission with Lyon's men now likely to meet either Glasgow or Berwick in the last four.

Eklof (paid 12) was on the verge of a paid maximum in his first Stars' outing before Johnston and Gathercole trapped to dictate the sudden death finale.

Ward (paid ten) turned in a composed display after moving into the main body of the team while Kozza Smith (paid six) also made a welcome injury return.

Smith had missed the whole of the club's early season Premier Trophy campaign after suffering serious arm, rib and shoulder injuries in a pre-season shunt for Ipswich.

Eklof blasted from gate one in the opener to stun Somerset's talisman Johnston - Tomas Topinka holding off the Rebel number one for a decisive away maximum.

Heavy points-scoring reserve Jay Herne had too much gas for Jan Graversen with Smith happy to settle for third on his seasonal re-appearance.

Ward eased Simon Walker wide as Emiliano Sanchez cut back inside to nullify Emil Kramer's heat three flag.

Gathercole repelled Chris Schramm in the early sparring to take the next but Eklof and Topinka renewed team riding acquaintances to move Lynn four clear.

Herne showed he was no respecter of reputations to delay Ward as Gathercole escaped to claim a re-run heat seven.

Lynn's super Swede Eklof turned heat eight into a procession - Walker finally wearing down Graversen to split the Stars' duo.

Ward exacted revenge on Herne in heat ten with the subdued Johnston deferring to the young pretenders.

No nonsense Eklof wrecked Gathercole's maximum surge in a muscular heat 11 top bend showdown - Somerset's Aussie appearing to offer some words of advice at the finish.

Smith then went toe-to-toe with Walker after a feisty heat 12 following a turn one spill behind team mate Sanchez.

Johnston and Gathercole moved Somerset back into range to set up a grandstand finish.

Ward shaded the penultimate heat to preserve the visitors' two point advantage but the highly rated racer and Eklof came up short in the do-or-die finale.

Scorers

Rebels: Johnston 9+2, Walker 3, Kramer 9, Gathercole 11+1, Herne 9+2, Brown 5+1.

Stars: Topinka 8+2, Eklof 11+1, Sanchez 5, Ward 9+1, Schramm 4+1, Smith 4+2, Graversen 3.