A tough night at the office saw Belle Vue leave Somerset empty handed after the Cases Rebels made good on their promise to make it two impressive wins against a play-off contender.
The visitors were on the back foot before they even turned a wheel after paramedics ordered Rohan Tungate to withdraw from the meeting due to the effects of a crash at Swindon.
It left the Rentruck Aces with no No.4 and three races where no other members of the team could cover his rides, making theirs an even more challenging evening than was earlier anticipated.
And the Cases Rebels were more than prepared to take advantage of their opponents’ obvious handicap and were quick to stamp their authority all over their Oakree Arena stomping ground.
Guest rider David Bellego provided a sterling performance for Belle Vue in place of the absent Kenneth Bjerre along with captain Craig Cook. But it was clear their team mates were struggling.
Team boss Mark Lemon said: “I don’t think the score can reflect the efforts of the boys tonight. With both Max and Kenneth out, then Rohan Tungate being withdrawn they could’ve easily panicked.
“But in fact they did quite the opposite. Their heads never dropped, they rallied and did the best job they could in the circumstances but unfortunately the stakes were always going to be against us.
“Rohan took a tumble while guesting for Leicester on Thursday, which we were aware of, and though he sought medical attention his leg swelled right up in the build-up to the meeting.
“The medics wouldn’t let him ride which was the right decision though the timing was far from ideal. We’ve just got to move on from this one, put it to rest and focus on King’s Lynn next week.”
Words: Hayley Bromley
Images: Ian Charles
