oldtimer

That's twice now Jason Doyle has been beaten by a reserve, time to make changes?

Edinburgh 49 Rebels 41. Main difference in teams was Monarchs reserves 15 points, Rebels reserves only 3. Alex Davies not beating an opponent from 4 rides big disappointment and a kick up backside needed for tomorrow. Still a good Rebels performance against a strong team and a win at Berwick should be "a walk in the park".

I wonder why Gary has split up the Davies/Morris pairing?

In this weeks Star Nicki Pedersen said, "There were some good races, we entertained the crowd." Jan Staechmann in same edition, said, "The racing was fierce and entertaining." Perhaps it was better if you were there?

Think Berwick will come up a lot shorter than that!

I am 12 to 15 miles from track (not sure exact distance) rain stopped about 1pm but started again later and steady drizzle at 16-35.

A good point, I stand corrected.

I hope for your sake there is some good racing, although it looks like a string of 5-1's to me, but I have been wrong before.

I forgot that, so Sheffield are replacing their injured number one on a 9-33 average with someone who's true average is 6-89, bit of a joke, is it not?

On the Rebels web site match preview it lists Thomas Jorgensen as a 9-33 average, but according to the green sheets his latest average is 6-89. Are there two Thomas Jorgensen's?

Fantastic stadium, but crap track!

Jake Anderson beating Doyle must be the shock of the season, hope Gary had a good look at Jake when he came back to make certain it was him.

Rampant Rebels carried on where they left off on Tuesday, Nick and Alex are proving a 5-1 machine and Doyle back to his best after sorting out his electrical problems. For the third match in a row, I have to say that Simon Lambert was worth much more than his 2 points. For the Devils, Bech looks an entertainer and Jensen could prove useful, but expected more from Todd Kurts who is possibly still feeling his injury. R/R got the Devils 7 points so probably no less than Gathercole would have scored. There was a huge crowd inflated by the Plymouth supporters and consequently it created a good atmosphere as did the frolics of the Rebels Rooster and the Plymouth Devil on the centre green. It was good to see that with 3 meetings in 8 days crowds were better than average for all three matches, obviously proof that the recession must nearly be over. One of the new attractions at the Oak Tree now days is what new high tech gadget will Dave T have next week.

Some of the things you read in the Star each week, that team managers and Promoters say make me laugh. This week Phil Morris regarding the defeat at Lakeside is quoted as saying, "It was a disappointing result for us at Lakeside, but even on a bad night we got close to a point, and I think that shows what a solid side we are." Err, you only had three of your side at Lakeside, plus 3 guests and R/R!

Great to see Somerset so heavily featured in this weeks Star. Apart from the match report there are write ups on Simon Lambert, Bill Hancocks birthday party, Last weeks high profile guests Mark Loram and Mike Broadbanks and even a photo of the Rebels Rooster on letters page. This Fridays match too difficult to call and depends on how the two newcomers perform, Stichauer scored 7+1 on his first visit to the Oak Tree in 2011. Also depends on how R/R performs and Kurtz could be a danger at reserve with 7 rides.

Well said!

Was this the same Workington team that visited a few weeks ago? Track was much more grippy than usual and perhaps that caught them out. It certainly suited the Rebels especially Nick Morris who clocked 56.68 in heat 3. After a track grade following heat 4, Rebels banged in three 5-1's so it was against cry's of "Leave well alone" that there was more tractor racing after heat 7. Doyle had a bit of an off night (for him) and bike stopped in heat 15, for the second week Simon Lambert was worth more than his points. Racing a bit processional but that was down to a poor Comets performance rather than the track. Nick Morris was rider of the night. Looking forward to Friday Tod Kurtz said he would be fit to ride but Gathercole definitely not fit. He said Plymouth had signed two new riders, did not say if they will be declared in time for Friday, but he may have meant that one new signing was Jensen, who has ridden for Plymouth already.

Just another example of what's wrong with the sport, a team getting beaten not by the actual opposing team but by a guest from another team.

Well it was a comfortable win in front of a bumper crowd, but it didn't look so good up until heat 4 when Rebels stepped up a gear. For Redcar Wilkinson was a disappointment and Dyer looked a different rider than when he guested for Scunthorpe, Ostergaard was also poor. Simon Lambert did well and battled away for his points, would probably have scored 5 if he hadn't knocked Skidmore off. Mark Loram was there helping Alex and also speedway legend Mike Broadbank, who said he enjoyed every race and better racing than at Swindon. Good to see the Rebels Rooster back and Kyle got rider of the night. There was a different announcer in the box, and I'm sure he is a nice bloke, but it was hard to hear what he was saying and his announcements of first white, second red, third blue, fourth yellow is a bit amateurish and hopefully if back on Tuesday someone will have given him a bit of tuition before the match. Finally HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Bill Hancock 70 on Sunday, all the team sang happy birthday and presented him with a race jacket with Hancock 70 on the front. Bad news about Ricky Ashworth and can only hope not as bad as the reports seem.

Matej Kus is coming back from injury and now having to ride at number 1 replacing disappointing Ostergaard. Kus is on a 7-45 average but is only worth about 6 and I cannot see him or Ostergaard making much of an impact against the Rebels top three. Dyer scored 7 at The Oak Tree recently when guesting for Scunthorpe but cannot see Redcar having many heat wins. Wilkinson at reserve may cause a bit of trouble, however I forecast a comfortable win for Rebels.

I totally agree, obviously the Council's attitude has changed since the early days. With 3 meetings in 8 days there is a danger that people may give the Plymouth match a miss as the discount is for the Redcar and Workington matches, will be interesting to see how crowds compare. I'm basing this opinion on the fact that for two people to attend all three, it works out at £90-50 for entry, car park and programme over an 8 day period. Fortunately I'm a rich pensioner and money is no object. My impression is Tom's equipment is not fast enough, presumably because he cannot afford better, a real shame but you cannot say that management have not given him every chance to make the grade.

As I said RESERVE judgement, Welcome Simon Lambert.

Have to wait for the official announcement, so therefore will have to reserve judgement.

It only saves us old'uns £2, but well done anyway, hope they get a decent Tuesday crowd. Why is the Worky match on a Tuesday and not a Friday as Worky are a Saturday night club? Can't be short of dates as we had a blank Friday a few weeks ago!

Good news Kyle is Ok. A large holiday crowd and it was a unfortunate that due to Kyle's crash there was a 45 minute delay, as some people left the stadium and missed Hougaards brilliant last two rides. Track well watered and little dust before Kyle's accident, however during the stoppage, for some unknown reason, the two tractors decided to go round and round for half an hour which made it dusty when racing resumed. Stefan impressive on his comeback and worth more than the 5 points he scored, Nick seemed to struggle for his points and obviously The Oak Tree not one of his best tracks. As for Hougaard, well all I can say is, he made Jason Doyle look boring!