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IT’S SHOWDOWN SUNDAY!
Thursday July 28, 2016
It is virtually a month since Rye House Stadium has staged racing, but that scenario is about to change in a big, big way as the BMR Rockets and Raiders finally roar back onto home shale this Sunday (4pm).
It will be double header action that greets them – with two huge battles in prospect to boot as they face the toughest sides that the Premier and Travel Plus National Leagues have to offer!
The Somerset Rebels are currently on a run of fifteen successive victories – that streak could reach sixteen before they reach Hoddesdon on Sunday – to sit four points behind current Premier League leaders Glasgow, but with six matches in hand. Also through to the Semi-Finals of both the Knock-Out and League Cups, the Rebels have already tasted success in this season’s Premier League Pairs courtesy of biggest guns Josh Grajczonek and Rohan Tungate.
Those are strong statistics, but they don’t frighten Rye House Team Manager Peter Schroeck. “The Rebels are a very good side, that’s for sure, but we are quietly confident that we can do what we have to in order to get the result. Eddie (Kennett) will have a real point to prove after the Fours, and the rest of the boys did well at Peterborough and will want to keep that going. Leigh (Lanham) and Cam (Heeps) have sorted their engines, and Robbo (Stuart Robson) is back on it.
“It looks as though Peter (Karger) will be out for another two to three weeks, so we’ll have Rob Branford in place once again, and he is definitely up for it.
“All the boys know that we are coming into the business end of the season, and they are determined to get really stuck in. They also know – and they don’t need reminding – that they are the only side to beat Somerset so far this season, and they want to do it again.â€
Sunday’s fifteen Premier League races will be followed by fifteen more, this time in the Travel Plus National League, as the BMR Raiders tackle a Birmingham team with a record that is on a part with Somerset’s. The Brummies have lost just once in 21 competitive outings – a narrow 46-43 defeat at Eastbourne – and have already lifted the National Trophy.
Zach Wajtnecht (injury) and Tom Perry (Premier League commitment) will be missing from their line-up on Sunday, with the Midlanders calling on Liam Carr and Ben Wilson as guests accordingly.
The Raiders, meanwhile, have re-shuffled their own deck to counter George Hunter’s latest injury, with Sam Woods recalled to their main seven.
Peter Schroeck really feels for Hunter, saying, “The only luck George seems to have had this season has been bad luck. We are hoping he will be back, though, for our match at the Isle of Wight. He visited the hospital again yesterday, and they confirmed he has broken a very small bone in his wrist. It may never fully heal, but that won’t be a problem as long as he wears special protection on his wrist.
“In the meantime, we are delighted to welcome Sam back to the fold, and no doubt he will be out there to prove a point.
“I am realistic enough to know that Sunday’s match against Birmingham will be very, very tough. Their record speaks for itself. We need our top boys to do what they are capable of, and to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself.
“But as we showed at Kent, however, we are capable of surprises - and we hope we can spring another one on Sunday.â€
BMR Rockets:
Rob Branford (guest), Cameron Heeps, Edward Kennett (captain), Leigh Lanham, Kasper Lykke, Ben Morley, Stuart Robson
Somerset:
Jake Allen, Josh Grajczonek (captain), Rob Shuttleworth (guest), Paul Starke, Rohan Tungate, Bradley Wilson-Dean, Charles Wright
BMR Raiders:
Rob Branford, Macauley Leek, Conner Locke, Ben Morley, Luke Priest (captain), Matt Saul, Sam Woods
Birmingham:
Tom Bacon, Liam Carr (guest), Danyon Hume, Jack Parkinson-Blackburn, Darryl Ritchings, Jack Smith, Ben Wilson (guest)
Sunday’s double header admission pricing is: Adults £20, Seniors (over 60s) £17, Full-Time Students (17-22) £15, Children (aged 12-16) £8, with Children (under 12) admitted FREE.
The double header match programme will be £3.00
Please note that those seeking Student admission must provide a copy of their current student photo ID (issued by the NUS or their university/college) at the turnstiles.
Additionally, Birmingham supporters wishing only to watch the second match may do so by entering the stadium after Heat 14 of the Premier League match, with normal National League admission then applying:
Adults £12, Full-Time Students (17-22) £8, Children (aged 12-16) £5, with Children (under 12) FREE.
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