The Rebels looked to be coasting to an easy win, as they stormed into a 14-point lead in the opening three heats. The problems increased for the depleted Racers, when Chris Mills was taken to hospital, with back and head injuries, after taking a tumble in heat five. Bleak prospects for Reading Simon Stead proved a trump card for Reading as guest replacement for Matej Zagar, who was unavailable because of the Slovenian national championships. The 22-year-old Belle Vue rider slotted in at number five. He reeled off six race wins, including a six-point return in heat 11, when he took a tactical ride as rider replacement for the injured Danny Bird. Acting skipper Andrew Appleton provided good support for the Racers, with a couple of race wins and three second places. It was just as well for Somerset that they began strongly with a couple of 5-1 wins in the first three races. A second place for reserve Chris Johnson, ahead of Lee Smart in heat two, was the only success for Reading in those opening heats. Reading's prospects looked bleak in heat five, when Mills took a tumble, in front of Ritchie Hawkins, while trying to challenge Paul Fry for the lead. Victory for the Rebels The re-run saw Fry and Hawkins score a 4-2 against Appleton to open up a 12-point advantage for the Rebels. Appleton scored his first win in heat seven. Going into the third bend on the last lap, he squeezed inside Glenn Cunningham and held off the home rider to clinch a narrow verdict on the line. Somerset pulled 14 points clear with a 4-2 from skipper Magnus Zetterstrom and rider of the night Jamie Smith, against Appleton and Richard Wolff in heat 10. Reading stormed back, however, with a 7-2 heat advantage from Stead and Mathieu Tresarrieu, against Cunningham and Smart in heat 11. Then Wolff swept around the outside of Ritchie Hawkins to win heat 12, with Tresarrieu holding third spot from Jason King to reduce the deficit to seven points. A couple of drawn heats ensured victory for the Rebels, but Reading staged a grandstand finish. Stead completed his maximum in the final heat. Appleton battled through from the back, overhauling Fry and Zetterstrom to give the visitors their only 5-1 of the evening. | 
