Published: October 26, 2012
Huge crowd expected in Highbridge tonight for speedway final

Highbridge-based Somerset Rebels will be looking to create their own bit of history tonight (Friday, October 26th) when they line up against the Scunthorpe Scorpions at the Oaktree Arena in the first leg of the Premier League Play-Off Final that will determine British Speedway's 2012 Premier League Champions.

It comes after an eventful evening for the side last night (Thursday) when the Rebels won the League Cup after a nail-biting decider against Ipswich Witches. The Rebels lost 51-42 on the night, but had taken a 14-point lead up to Suffolk after last Friday's home leg at the Oaktree Arena and won 95-90 on aggregate.

The Rebels, now League Cup holders, will compete in the first leg of the Premier League Grand Final tonight at 7.30pm.

Victory for the Rebels over the two legs would see them become Premier League Champions for the first time in their history.

"This has to be the biggest night in the history of the Somerset Rebels and the Oaktree Arena since that first meeting back in 2000," Rebels promoter Debbie Hancock told Burnham-On-Sea.com.

"To be in the Grand Final with the possibility of becoming Premier League Champions is just amazing and I sincerely hope that everyone in the locality, whether they have been to speedway before or not, come along to support the Rebels for Friday night’s 1st leg as they bid to lift that Championship title."

With Somerset captain Jason Doyle sidelined due to the neck injury he sustained in the recent Premier League Riders’ Championship at Sheffield, the Rebels have booked the services of the winner of that Riders' Championship, Edinburgh’s Craig Cook, to guest in Doyle’s place in both legs of the Championship Final against the Scorpions.

"Craig has been in superb form all season and showed just what he is capable of in scoring 13 points from his 5 rides when Edinburgh rode at the Oaktree Arena earlier this season," Hancock explained. "I am sure that he will prove to be an excellent replacement for Doyley."

"The two matches we have had against Scunthorpe during the regular Premier League season have both been close affairs, so it all points to an exciting finale to the season with that Championship Trophy up for grabs!"

A victory this weekend would be remarkable considering that the club was only formed in 2000, and did not join the Premier League itself until 2002.

The Rebels host the Scorpions at the Oaktree Arena at 7.30pm, and will be looking to build up another healthy lead to defend in the second leg, which will be away, on Sunday afternoon at 4pm.

Pictured: The Rebels in action against Ipswich Witches (pics Colin Burnett)