crescent girl

That went well, Taff! No messing about up north. First two fixtures Friday and Saturday....

Somerset will also get points tonight, so it won't be settled until the weekend. What might be clearer after tonight is who will be sixth, if Peterborough don't get a win at Plymouth, that'll open the door for Workington. Scunthorpe will be last team picked. Neither of the top two will want them in their section. They're in form, they don't carry a travelling support and are a Friday track, meaning fixture hassles for either choosing club.

Historically, Bandits have virtually always had a Scottish ethic, though. Nearly all the owner-promoters down through the years, the Taylor family, the Fairbairns, Peter Waite and the Andersons are Scottish, only Terry Lindon and Mike Hopes were English. To tease the question further, an independent Scotland might request "all lands north of the Tweed" be returned to their control as part of the discussion to follow next week's referendum. Leaving Tweedmouth in England, of course!

Alex Edberg out of Berwick side tomorrow. James Sargent is replacement.

What gets interesting is that, while if Workington fail by a point to make the top six (admittedly unlikely) this would be 'their own fault' for not staging/completing matches before the cut-off date. But if Edinburgh fail to top the table (again unlikely) by a point because other clubs failed to arrange matches at which Monarchs are the visitors before the cut-off, that makes a difference in the play-off groups, as Somerset would then get first and third choice of opposition.......

Berwick promotion have decided to postpone Benevolent Fund collection until during the play-offs -- which might well also be against the Comics!

That Belle Vue do get a stadium one day is definately important. But do we need two close-to-identical threads running here in parallel?

That Belle Vue do get a stadium one day is definately important. But do we need two close-to-identical threads running here in parallel?

Not quite, although wording could be better-put. It is like in the playgound, the two top teams look at the remaining four, then top team picks one of them, the runners-up pick another, the top team pick the third team they'd like in their group and the runners-up are left with the fat kid nobody wants.

Well, I got my Newsletter! It tells me: It's Worky on Wednesday --- our final home match of the regular season -- and our promotion are doing us proud with £10 admission with kids free as usual, a free programme and (if there's space left) only £25 to join us in our hospitality lounge! The Comets are teetering on the verge of making the play-offs, but will still be desperate to get points from this meeting to overhaul Newcastle in the race for sixth place. On the other hand, the New Holland Bandits are still chasing Ipswich for third slot in the final standings, but will need all three points from this match as well as something out of either (or both) this week's away fixtures at Scunthorpe and Sheffield to haul in the Witches. John Anderson lists the usual September riding order, while Workington will run without Rene Bach, who has a commitment in Denmark. Racing begins at 7.30pm, and at the interval there will be the annual SRBF collection by riders from both teams. Line-ups: BANDITS: 1. Claus, 2. David, 3. Kevin, 4. Steen, 5. Matej, 6. Matty, 7. Alex. COMETS: 1. Josh Grajczonek, 2. Rene Bach (r/r), 3. Ricky Wells, 4. Mason Campton, 5. Kyle Howarth, 6. Joe Jacobs, 7. Simon Lambert.

There is also the concern of three Friday tracks, plus (if Worky get in) two Saturday tracks in the mix. Would it be the case that if (say) Edinburgh chose Scunny in their wee league, they'd also maintain priority of race-night? Ditto if Berwick and Worky are chosen in same group, will Berwick keep their Saturday through seniority?

But if it rains on Saturday......?

Don't think you'll see Rene Bach there.....

I think you'll find it was during the SUMMER that most of the RAIN caused all the POSTPONEMENTS.

Bandits' e-Newsletter confirms teams. Berwick full strength, Matty Wethers fit. Scunny have Hugh Skidmore at No 1. NJL action to follow -- Border Raiders v Workington Meteors.

Bandits e-Newsletter confirms Matthew Wethers has been passed fit to rejoin the team at Somerset. Will ride at No 6 in a rejigged line-up.

And who says the play-offs (and getting to them) isn't fun?

Hardly, the cut-off date is that Sunday, so play-off qualifiers probably won't be known until that evening. September 13th might be used for a rain-off between now and then, but as Bandits are racing at home on Wednesday 10th, a home meeting of any kind is unlikely.

Pleased for Glasgow, getting all the points with a decimated line-up. Sounds as though the folk who chose (always the client's choice) to stay away missed a close meeting. Those Rockets really don't travel too well, do they?

THere's a fallacy creeping into these discussions about the play-offs. They are not in any way decided by aggregate scores, they are two mini-leagues.

Jeez, you're hard to please. In his last three home meetings, Claus Vissing has scored two maximums.

Good news for Berwick supporters is that Matty Wethers will be having a skid in the second half, in effect a fitness test to see how he feels about racing next weekend.

I'm guessing publication of the September averages -- tomorrow? -- will be eagerly awaited!

Agreed. Plus the rolling averages, which dramatically-lessen the opportunity for corruption. Three really good things, all of which have helped speedway in the past two or three difficult years. Maybe the BSPA aren't so head-in-the-sand as some would believe?

Looking ahead to the meeting tomorrow. Bandits draft Arron Mogridge as No 8 -- nice link to the Berwick Hall of Fame, as Arron is of course son of Alan........