Defending champs Aces out of Cup despite big home victory
THERE were mixed emotions in the Belle Vue camp after the Rentruck Aces bowed out of the Premiership Knock Out Cup, despite bagging a 50-40 home win against Somerset.
It was not enough to overcome the 14-point advantage established by the Cases Rebels at the Oaktree Arena, meaning they now go on to face King’s Lynn.
True to their form all season, the visitors made life difficult for their hosts, pressuring them in the opening heats.
They succeeded for some time until the Aces started to find their mojo and brought the meeting to within two races of a golden-heat situation with a spectacular display in Heat 13.
Max Fricke and Craig Cook got the better of Jason Doyle and Jack Holder, but ultimately defending champions Belle Vue were unable to hold on.
Skipper Fricke said: “It was a such a shame to lose by only four points on aggregate. It was a great win for the boys on the night but it just wasn’t enough to put us through to the final.
“The advantage they brought from the first leg definitely played its part. It wasn’t an impossible ask but it’s not an easy margin to recover when you’re facing down a team like Somerset.
“It would’ve been nice to defend our title but now we need to focus on the big one.”
The Aces’ play-off semi-final with King’s Lynn is punctuated by a visit to Swindon on September 27, after they begin their semi-final with the Stars at home on September 24.
Their Premiership title chase will then be decided in Norfolk on October 1.