BIRMINGHAM have put themselves in pole position in their Knockout Cup quarter-final tie with Somerset after a 48-42 first leg victory at the Oak Tree Arena.

Unfortunately the win may be a costly one as Aaron Summers looks set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a suspected broken collarbone in a heat 12 fall.

On the plus side Jason Lyons was in great form once again with a 14-point haul and he received some excellent backing from Steve Johnston (12+3) and Richard Sweetman (10).

The Brummies got off to fast start opening up a 9-3 advantage after two races and it was a lead they never surrendered.

The Rebels did close the gap on a couple of occasions, but 5-1s from the Sweetman/ Summers and Lyons/ Kyle Newman pairings immediately restored Birmingham’s advantage back to six-points.

Another maximum from Lyons and Johnston followed in heat 13 and although Somerset replied with a 4-2 in the penultimate race, the Brummies held on and take a six-point lead into next Wednesday’s home leg at Perry Barr.

SOMERSET 42: Sam Masters 11, Shane Parker 9, James Holder 9, Ritchie Hawkins 5+1, Christian Heffenbrock 4, Cory Gathercole 4, Mark Baseby 0

BIRMINGHAM 48: Jason Lyons 14, Steve Johnston 12+3, Richard Sweetman 10, Kyle Newman 7+1, Aaron Summers 4+1, Ricky Wells 1, Justin Sedgmen R/R