4thbender

Nah mate, they didn't. They were fourth.

Sorry to upset the applecart, but as a dyed-in-the-wool Tigers supporter for 58 years, it gives me no pleasure whatever to see "my team" racing in the semi-finals with only ONE rider who actually started the campaign in Sheffield colours. I do not recognise this team as MY team and, even if it should reach the final and emerge victorious, I cannot perceive any circumstances in which I could rejoice in a faux-Sheffield team as Premiership Champions. Added to which, the "final" itself (assuming faux-Sheffield reach that stage) will be a race-off between the teams that finished third and fourth in the league of seven, making it more a 'mid-table joust' than a contest of champions!

I'm afraid he was...on the fourth bend both leading riders passed the coasting Douglas before they had had time to respond to the red light. Douglas had clearly retired from the race and should no way have been allowed into the rerun.

Let's face it, Sheffield's 2023 season is finished. Racing with what is effectively a four-man team is never going to hack it. How ever was Steady pursuaded that Vissing was a good bet at reserve?

Tai out with a broken hand. Bring back Jack?

It's on the away matches that the Tigers need strengthening. Pickering's away record this season gives him a GSA average of 2.67. Not sure that's much of an improvement.... apart from which, he's carrying an injury that doesn't seem to be getting better.

Scored 13+2 on Friday against Plymouth. Reckon he'd be a good bet at no.6, allowing Kyle to replace Bellego.

Just on the speculation front, can any of you mathematicians tell us whether team averages would allow for Bellego and Ellis out and BWD and Mountain in?

Reckon it'll be Bellegone if he doesn't score a hatful tonight.

It's been so long since any of "our" riders put in a shift for the Tigers, I'm surprised any of them remember their commitment to the yellow and blue. Even when the poles allow them to ride in the UK, they're all carrying injuries incurred elsewhere. The last time Musie rode for Tigers was April 6th, and by the time we fans get to see any of them again at home, it will be at least seven weeks since their previous outing at Owlerton. Building any sort of team camaraderie must be difficult for promoters.

Are we seriously being made to believe that BV is paying Bewley a 'flat fee' to lose races in order to reduce his average, allowing 6-point Charles Wright to be replaced by 8-point Matei Zagar at the earliest opportunity? Wrighty must be looking over his shoulder after every match. I suppose knowing how BV fixed the team prior to the play-offs last year, nothing is impossible. I hope Phil Morris is reading this.

Are you suggesting that a professional such as Dan Bewley would "throw" some races early on to lower his average (and his pay!) to enable the management to ditch one of his team-mates in order to bring in a higher scoring replacement? If I thought for one minute that premiership riders and promoters were capable of colluding on such a nefarious scheme I would never enter a speedway stadium again.

Planning the play-off "ringer" already? Zagar in, Bewley out, perhaps?

....Well, one of 'em anyway.

The match was over by 8.45 - I was home in time to watch most of the second half of the England match on telly. Will we get a proportional reduction in admission prices for shortened entertainment value? I've known a frame of snooker at the Crucible last longer! (not complaining really!)