crescent girl

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........

On Bandits' website: Despite the defeat, everyone at Edinburgh was delighted to see Matty Wethers in the pits, lending moral support to his team-mates. Still very stiff and sore, Matty admitted that any attempt to get back on board the bike this week would be impossible -- but has set his sights on rejoining the rest of the lads for the home meeting with Redcar on August 30th! This is good news indeed, putting the Speedway Star's suggestion that he would be sidelined 'indefinitely' into perspective. Now he needs to get his equipment replaced after those big crashes, with the Bandits Supporters Club holding a collection tonight for that very purpose.

Berwick's release this morning: Blame – or thank – the Gods of Weather. So much Saturday-night rain has descended on Tweedmouth during 2014, Berwick’s high-flying speedway Bandits (sponsored by New Holland Agriculture) have been forced into the unusual step of staging two complete matches on one evening – this Saturday night! 30 races on the bill! “We are on course to qualify for the end-of-term play-offs for the league title,” explained co-promoter Ryan Anderson yesterday. “However, to do so it is necessary to complete all our home matches by mid-September, and all the rained-out meetings now mean there are more outstanding matches than Saturdays to stage them on! “As a result, we are doubling-up – beginning racing at half-past six this week, taking on Rye House Rockets, catch our breath for twenty minutes or so and pitch back into action against Newcastle Diamonds! Getting everything all done and dusted by half-past nine, as usual, we hope. “All for one admission price of course, and we’ll be offering a bumper 36-page programme to what we are hoping will be a bumper attendance!” Adult admission for the 30-race bonanza is £19, OAPs £12 and all accompanied children up to 16 are absolutely free. Hospitality seating in the guest lounge, including admission, programme, buffet and refreshments is £35, but must be pre-booked with Commercial Manager Lani Rae on 07779-227535. MATCH #2: BANDITS v NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS: In the second part of the extravaganza, there are no guests, no replacements, in a determined bunch of Diamond geezers! Bandits are hoping to take three league points from both matches, hoisting the (un-fancied by all pre-season experts) border side into the top three of the table, with matches-in-hand over the clubs above them. Newcastle are clinging to a play-off place by their fingernails, and must eke every single point out of their remaining fixtures if they are to stay in the magic half-dozen clubs contesting the lucrative end-of-term play-offs. Team manager-for-the-night Alan Hedley will have his charges revved-up and ready to go, perhaps hoping that fatigue to men and machines might affect the home riders in the later stages of the second contest. Bandits: 1. Claus Vissing (captain), 2. David Bellego, 3. Steen Jensen, 4. Matty Wethers - Rider-replacement, 5. Kevin Doolan, 6. Alexander Edberg, 7. Matej Kus Diamonds: 1. Danny King, 2. Lewis Rose, 3. Stuart Robson, 4. Lewis Kerr, 5. Ludvig Lindgren, 6. Simon Nielsen, 7. Chris Mills

Berwick release this morning: Blame – or thank – the Gods of Weather. So much Saturday-night rain has descended on Tweedmouth during 2014, Berwick’s high-flying speedway Bandits (sponsored by New Holland Agriculture) have been forced into the unusual step of staging two complete matches on one evening – this Saturday night! 30 races on the bill! “We are on course to qualify for the end-of-term play-offs for the league title,” explained co-promoter Ryan Anderson yesterday. “However, to do so it is necessary to complete all our home matches by mid-September, and all the rained-out meetings now mean there are more outstanding matches than Saturdays to stage them on! “As a result, we are doubling-up – beginning racing at half-past six this week, taking on Rye House Rockets, catch our breath for twenty minutes or so and pitch back into action against Newcastle Diamonds! Getting everything all done and dusted by half-past nine, as usual, we hope. “All for one admission price of course, and we’ll be offering a bumper 36-page programme to what we are hoping will be a bumper attendance!” Adult admission for the 30-race bonanza is £19, OAPs £12 and all accompanied children up to 16 are absolutely free. Hospitality seating in the guest lounge, including admission, programme, buffet and refreshments is £35, but must be pre-booked with Commercial Manager Lani Rae on 07779-227535. MATCH #1: BANDITS v RYE HOUSE ROCKETS: In the first match, Berwick will face a guest-strengthened box of Rockets, as the Hertfordshire side have had an unfortunate glut of riders withdrawing from their squad. Edward Kennett is returning of course, and will be a popular visitor - he turned out for Berwick for a period last season to cover for the injured Ricky Ashworth. He leads a team with former Bandit (and British U-21 Champion) Ritchie Hawkins replacing Luke Bowen, and tenacious Aussie Mason Campton in for Jason Garrity. The Rockets will use the rider-replacement regulation to cover the races of Anders Mellgren, who has withdrawn from UK racing to rest an injured back. Regular Rockets Steve Boxall (himself riding through the pain from an injured ankle, experienced Jason Bunyan (who has appeared in three Grands Prix) and Olly Greenwood complete their side. The Bandits list their regular squad. Bandits: 1. Claus Vissing (captain), 2. David Bellego, 3. Steen Jensen, 4. Matty Wethers – Rider replacement, 5. Kevin Doolan, 6. Alexander Edberg, 7. Matej Kus Rockets: 1. Edward Kennett, 2. Ritchie Hawkins, 3. Steve Boxall, 4. Mason Campton, 5. Anders Mellgren - Rider replacement, 6. Oliver Greenwood, 7. Jason Bunyan

Far from it, I was genuinely impressed by the stat, and thought I was saying so. The follow-up was just my own observation on the importance of solidarity.

Thanks to our "Proud-to-be-a-Fanny" Tourettes, for that. Good, indeed great, stat! Demonstrating it is more important to assemble a team which can collectively win matches, especially away from home, than build a team to the limit based on average, no?

No, I think toothless refers to some of the attempts by the usual suspects (on this fine forum) to deny Berwick's promotion credit for what they have achieved, on and off track, since taking over at Shielfield....... (cue usual suspects)

The Diamonds will be manoeuvred by Alan Hedley on Saturday night. A rare missed meeting for George.

Word from Armadale on Aaron Fox is he is to see the doctors today, still feeling pain in shoulder and chest. His avowed intention is to ride if given the medical all-clear.

Very well said, very well put. Should you be coming on here, Steve? Making sensible posts like that?

Deniers? Isn't that the linear mass density of fibres in my silk stockings?

In addition to his injuries, Matty again suffered a huge financial blow last week, with his bike, helmet and neck-brace all wrecked -- virtually the same damage suffered in his big 'off' during the match against Redcar. Total replacement bills from the two big crashes getting up towards £4,000. The club have already been contacted by a supporter who read about the helmet 'doing its job' in a recent newsletter and will be contributing to purchase of a replacement helmet and brace, and the Bandits Supporters Club have the promotion's blessing to hold a collection between the two matches on Saturday night.

Very sad when this forum is used to spread untrue rumour. Deliberately? The allegation that Berwick will be short-handed at Edinburgh had no foundation, posting it could only discourage supporters to follow their side up the road on Friday. Repeating it without asking a question (and question that was not) wasn't clever at all. Nice to see Tourettes stepping in to deny the tale, confirming the Bandits expect to be at full strength. Like every club, Edinburgh need every spectator they can entice through their turnstiles, and they might have lost a few if the story had taken wings. In John Campbell's programme column last week, he referred to "our internet friends, some of whom now seem intent on damaging our business here". If that cap fits....

*Refer to forum rules on starting duplicate topics and on one topic per meeting* Yesterday evening's e-Newsletter, it say (with slight amendment, if Luke Bowen's out): DOUBLE-BUBBLE! As previously announced, we have a bargain for you on Saturday (23rd) when we attempt to reduce our backlog of home fixtures by presenting a very rare double-header of two matches on one night! Not just Rye House Rockets, but Newcastle Diamonds too! 30 heats of Premier League racing, and six vital PL points up for grabs. The Rockets will be spearheaded by our good friend Edward Kennett of course, and with multi-GP rider Jason Bunyan in support will be offering a spirited challenge of our bold Bandits -- and after that, Newcastle will be rolling their bikes into the pits, still intent on snatching every league point going as they claw for a foothold in what is becoming a hotly-contested battle for places in the top six! As we explained in our last Black-and-Gold Bulletin, racing will start thirty minutes earlier than usual, at 6.30pm sharp. Adult admission to the entire meeting will be £19, with senior citizens on £12 and kids of course absolutely free, as usual. The turnstiles will be opened at 5.45pm. As we announced during the Somerset match, there is no plan to offer a "one match only" deal on Saturday. As Dick said, if you go to a concert, or a music festival to see just one of the bands playing, you will still expect to pay for the whole show! Your programming will comprise 36 pages (£2 as always) and will feature the programme printed for the original Rye House fixture, plus an 8-page wraparound to update both teams, all the latest news and pictures and incorporate details of the visiting Newcastle riders.

Meeting begins at 6.30pm. Admission £19 and £12 for oldies. Children free. 36-page programme £2.