Brooksy

This will no doubt be the toughest of the Rebels 3 fixtures this weekend. Armadale's not a happy hunting ground for us. Our top 5 may be able to match the Monarchs, but Sneddon at reserve should be a trump card for them. If things go our way we may keep it close enough to pick up a point but, realistically, anything more than a point from this would be a very welcome surprise, Far more hopeful for points from both Berwick and Glasgow.

Wallop's unlikely - sneak it, maybe.

Well, it's wet at the moment, still raining on and off, but not heavy. Can see clearer sky coming in from the West, but it may be too late by the time it arrives. If the breeze picks up we might have a chance. You know how it works - if you stay at home, it's sure to be on, if you don't, it won't. Now getting worse. Little chance of this going ahead I'd say. 6.45pm...sun trying to break through. Hope it's not too late.

Unless things pick up considerably this afternoon, the only winner tonight is going to be the weather. Constant drizzle at the moment, with little sign of improvement in the near future. We can but hope.

Sheffield have a fantastic record at the OTA, but on all known current form, this should be a big win for the Rebels, whether Josh rides or not. Can only see another 20+ points win. Good warm-up for the weekend tests though.

Cheers Nick.

Please forgive my ignorance, but can somebody explain the proposed play-off format for this season. Is it the same as last year? The official site's 'Play-Off Picture - How It Works' is slightly less than helpful.

'Sticky' in for Nielsen it appears, with the dreaded r/r for Cory. Bech should be exciting to watch, and Kurtz at reserve may do some damage, but I fancy the rest of the Devils may get blown away by the in-form powerhouse Rebel top 5. The Devils have been tricky opponents for us already in the League Cup earlier this season, but I really can't see anything but a convincing Rebel victory this time, by 20 or more perhaps. The real test will be at the SBA on Saturday. We're one of only 4 teams to have lost there this season, and we've managed it twice!! Let's hope we can put that right and take 6 or even 7 points over the weekend.

Can't believe these were the same Comets that took us to a last heat decider just a few weeks ago (well 6 of them did)?? And who'd have believed 3 Rebels would score maximums and Doyley wouldn't be one of them?? Not what was expected by anyone I imagine. Nevertheless, a great performance all round by the Rebels again - hitting form just at the right time, as they enter a very busy period of 9 meetings before the end of the month. If they can stay injury-free, they're going to take some stopping!

Weather seems set fair so all systems go! Recent history points to a close battle between Rebels and Comets, whether home or away, with the home side usually just coming out on top. Whilst Lawson, Howarth and Bach are normally a handful round the OTA, with the Rebels able to put out a full-strength 1 - 7 for a change, I'd like to think they could take this with a little more to spare than previously - perhaps by 10 or 12?

I certainly hope not! Friday's Redcar fixture isn't a re-arranged one, so Rebels should get priority over Brummies for this one. ??? Please share!

With the Rebels due to host Redcar this Friday and then Workington on Tuesday, it's good to see the promotion offering discounted admission to the Worky meet to anyone attending the Redcar meet. Produce your admission ticket from Friday on Tuesday and get in for a tenner, saving yourself £5. And it's under 16's in for a quid. Also, to compensate season ticket holders, they are to receive free admission to the Edinboro' KOC Semi. That's how to look after your regular customers!

No need to replace him now - he's your no.1. Plenty of guests available instead. And somebody else must be performing worse for Kus to become no.1.

I was standing no more than 10 yards from yourself Rob, and Kyle was fractionally ahead when Ash tried to squeeze him - too late for Kyle to shut off. Nothing malicious, but Ash should have been excluded in my opinion. He's certainly a determined, feisty little racer, which is more than can be said of Howe nowadays on last night's evidence - easily brushed aside by younger, hungrier rivals - sad to see. As said elsewhere, Hougaard was sheer class. Took one ride to size up the track, then unstoppable. Heat 13 was worth the admission alone! Best I've seen at the OTA since Zorro. Not sure if his average will allow it come the end of the season, but would make a top PL no.1 next year!

Uncanny! Thanks SCB. I'm sure June will appreciate it too. Except that you must mean 1.6, surely? Or is it divided by 0.6?

Not the best explanation I've seen Najjer. I'm sure June was wondering how an EL rider with no PL average is assessed in comparison, maybe? Can you elaborate?

'without after timing'?? What I find amusing is the assumption of certain 'betting experts' on here that the bookies are ignorant of speedway and you can't fail to make a fortune from betting on it, yet I see far more losing predictions on here than winners. Maybe they're not so dumb after all? I have no problem with punters posting their betting 'sure-things' on here - I enjoy reading them actually - but, in my experience, successful punters do not generally divulge their betting patterns or strategies for free - either before or after the event.

I'm looking forward to seeing him myself too. All credit to the management for choosing Hougaard rather than one of the usual suspects we see guesting week-in week-out. I still think it's a gamble with regard to scoring potential, but if it has the effect of injecting more interest into the meeting and persuading the likes of SCB to come on down and experience the thrill of the OTA again, then it's a gamble worth taking - good luck to them. Rebels by 8, hopefully!

Interesting choice of guest for the Rebels. Hougaard may be in great form around Peterborough at present, but his scores away from The Showground aren't so impressive. Has he ever ridden at the OTA before, or even seen the place? Bit of a gamble in my opinion, with both Tom and Stefan coming back from injury, could put huge pressure on the other four. Hope it works out for us .

Uncanny insight! I love popping in to this thread - makes me laugh

Nip and tuck. As Elliot so expertly summed it up on the updates, " a close draw in the end! "

Good point, well made. Apologies - forgot it was a 2nd TR. But a 3-3 would still have been more advantageous, so no question of Morris deliberately missing the gate surely.

I've made my mind up Shadders - it's neither! A 5-1 in ht.10 was the worst case scenario for the Rebels. A 4-2 would still have allowed the Doyle TR in ht.11 and a 3-3 would have been a 4 point better result than the 5-1, thus off-setting Doyle's possible extra 3 points in ht.11. So neither clever management nor cheating I'm afraid. As for the match itself - fantastic point gained by the Rebels and we can only speculate what might have been. Also good news on the latest injury updates for both Tom and Lewis considering the initial fears. Not such a dreadful night as it seemed it was going to be, after all.

I may well regret this, but I am going to respond to this garbage. Firstly, I can compare the two because they both do the same job. They are team managers whose jobs entail putting together a side and then maximising the potential of the team through tactics and motivation. Unlike Matt Ford by the way, who is your promoter, not team manager, and, as such, is unlikely to fire himself if he does a bad job!! But I'm sure you knew that?? Secondly, your differences between Alex Ferguson and Garry are irrelevant as they are not in competition with each other. Garry is only competing against other speedway managers who are constrained by the same rules and similar budgets. And as for Garry's daughter supposedly asking you who I am - why is it lucky you don't know me? Whilst it is obviously my good fortune that we don't know each other, 'mate', I don't see what that has to do with my controversial opinion that Garry is not as good a manager as Sir Alex Ferguson!

So he's not a lovely guy then? No, I don't know Garry well, just what I see as an ordinary supporter at meetings, but I don't know Sir Alex either, yet I'm pretty sure which one I would prefer to be managing my team! Maybe Garry is an inspirational manager, but that certainly didn't come across from his TV interviews on Tuesday. Not 'presumptive drivel', just an observation. But don't ask me....I'm only a supporter!!