THE Somerset Rebels were hit with further injuries woes last night when Sam Masters suffered a suspected broken wrist whilst riding for Poole in their Elite League match against Belle Vue, this following on less than 24 hours after Claus Vissing sustained a broken collar-bone in Somerset’s Premier League meeting at Ipswich.

 

With Somerset now having two riders sidelined due to injury, the Rebels will use a guest and rider replacement in place of Vissing and Masters in tomorrow night's match at Redcar and again at home to Newcastle on Friday night, with Edinburgh's Craig Cook guesting for Vissing at Redcar and rider replacement operating for Masters, while on Friday Ipswich's Rohan Tungate will come in as guest replacement for Masters with rider replacement being used in place of Vissing.

 

Rebels promoter Debbie Hancock said: “You unfortunately accept that injuries are part and parcel of the sport but to have two of your riders sidelined in successive nights is something you just cannot legislate for, Sam’s being a cruel blow as he was due to ride in the opening round of the World Under-21 Championship in Italy at the weekend, something he was really looking forward to.”

 

“Luckily the back-room team we have here at the club immediately got to work when news of Sam’s injury came through and within half an hour we had guest replacements booked for tonight’s match at Redcar and tomorrow night’s home encounter against Newcastle, so that is the immediate taken care of as far as matches are concerned, after that we can sit down in the cold light of day and assess the situation and the options available to us before deciding the way forward.”