Berwick 2026

[Bandit59]

2 hours ago, Mgas said:

Your not wrong, just had a look on the wife’s facebook and they all seem thrilled.

Shows the difference between Facebook supporters and the ones on here, still each to their own.

[topaz325]

Good luck to Jack never seems to get a good run in a team , always tries his best for whatever club he rides for 

[screm]

1 hour ago, Jonnybegood said:

Great to Jack Smith with a team spot , this year will be a great year for him . 

That`s been said many many times before.

[screm]

1 hour ago, topaz325 said:

Good luck to Jack never seems to get a good run in a team , always tries his best for whatever club he rides for 

There`s a reason why he never gets a good run in any team.

[TigerIain]

Smith has been around a while but has often been the victim of the numbers game, so maybe not as experienced as done think. Partly as he has tracks he rides well and others he really doesn't. In this line up he could be at reserve all year. If he carries on his end of '25 season form he should be fine.

[szkocjasid]

3 hours ago, Mgas said:

Your not wrong, just had a look on the wife’s facebook and they all seem thrilled.

Smith does seem incredibly popular on fb. In previous seasons whenever a rider is injured, someone will say "what about Jack Smith, he could do a job" even when it's a heat leader missing. Heck someone just said he could do a job in the Prem.

I find it hard to put a positive spin on the signing - maybe he can get his average back above 3?

Edited Sunday at 06:40 PM by szkocjasid

[Fromafar]

10 minutes ago, szkocjasid said:

Smith does seem incredibly popular on fb. In previous seasons whenever a rider is injured, someone will say "what about Jack Smith, he could do a job" even when it's a heat leader missing. Heck someone just said he could do a job in the Prem.

I find it hard to put a positive spin on the signing - maybe he can get his average back above 3?

It’s hard to be positive signing rider who has been riding for over 10 years( mainly at reserve in Championship)and has an average under 3.Wish him well though.

[emilali]

4 hours ago, screm said:

And it was all looking so positive, but having Etheridge and now Smith in the same team means its yet another what might have been season for Berwick.

What was positive like? It all went downhill as soon as they signed VP on that average. The inevitable duffers like Etheridge and Jack Smith were always going to happen. 

[Fromafar]

2 hours ago, emilali said:

What was positive like? It all went downhill as soon as they signed VP on that average. The inevitable duffers like Etheridge and Jack Smith were always going to happen. 

Think Kemp not coming back upset the plans.Was not expecting V.P but don’t think he is bad signing though.

[szkocjasid]

I have found some positive stats for Bandits fans.

Smith averaged 3.07 in his 2025 matches, but with the last couple against Workington not counting, must've had a poor end to 2024, which drops his rolling ave.

Now that's still a disappointing season for a reserve with his experience no doubt, but does mean Berwick could be hopeful he can add half a point to his ave.

Edited Sunday at 10:36 PM by szkocjasid

[PersonalResponsibility]

10 hours ago, szkocjasid said:

I have found some positive stats for Bandits fans.

Smith averaged 3.07 in his 2025 matches, but with the last couple against Workington not counting, must've had a poor end to 2024, which drops his rolling ave.

Now that's still a disappointing season for a reserve with his experience no doubt, but does mean Berwick could be hopeful he can add half a point to his ave.

You're right about the poor end to 2024. I think he had a poor start too, and a poor end to 2023 after a poor start, then a poor end to 2022, etc., etc.

[YeOldPitGate]

13 hours ago, emilali said:

What was positive like? It all went downhill as soon as they signed VP on that average. The inevitable duffers like Etheridge and Jack Smith were always going to happen. 

If though at first set of new averages VP is off 1 point to 1.5 points it will give a bit of flexibility to strengthen up elsewhere I don't think he's a bad signing personally but granted if ideally he was a four he would probably be the best number four in the league, but I think if he stays injury free he will average over seven points a match.

[emilali]

58 minutes ago, YeOldPitGate said:

If though at first set of new averages VP is off 1 point to 1.5 points it will give a bit of flexibility to strengthen up elsewhere I don't think he's a bad signing personally but granted if ideally he was a four he would probably be the best number four in the league, but I think if he stays injury free he will average over seven points a match.

The time for preparing a good team is in the winter not once the season has started. As soon as they start losing at home they will inevitably change things as they do it every year to keep the happy clappers on board. 

[szkocjasid]

1 hour ago, YeOldPitGate said:

If though at first set of new averages VP is off 1 point to 1.5 points it will give a bit of flexibility to strengthen up elsewhere I don't think he's a bad signing personally but granted if ideally he was a four he would probably be the best number four in the league, but I think if he stays injury free he will average over seven points a match.

Normally with the rolling averages it'll take some time for big changes. But in Palovaara's case he'll be dropping his high scoring reserve rides first, so potentially gives Berwick room for manuvre.

Normally I wouldn't expect a knee-jerk reaction from them if the team doesn't start well. But they made a quick change last year with Borke.

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

18 hours ago, Jonnybegood said:

Great to Jack Smith with a team spot , this year will be a great year for him . 

 

18 hours ago, topaz325 said:

Good luck to Jack never seems to get a good run in a team , always tries his best for whatever club he rides for 

 

16 hours ago, screm said:

That`s been said many many times before.

 

16 hours ago, screm said:

There`s a reason why he never gets a good run in any team.

 

16 hours ago, Fromafar said:

It’s hard to be positive signing rider who has been riding for over 10 years( mainly at reserve in Championship)and has an average under 3.Wish him well though.

 

12 hours ago, szkocjasid said:

I have found some positive stats for Bandits fans.

Smith averaged 3.07 in his 2025 matches, but with the last couple against Workington not counting, must've had a poor end to 2024, which drops his rolling ave.

Now that's still a disappointing season for a reserve with his experience no doubt, but does mean Berwick could be hopeful he can add half a point to his ave.

 

1 hour ago, PersonalResponsibility said:

You're right about the poor end to 2024. I think he had a poor start too, and a poor end to 2023 after a poor start, then a poor end to 2022, etc., etc.

Look forward to the One Big League in 2027 where the likes of Jack Smith will be needed to fill Second string slots......

[Aries]

12 minutes ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look forward to the One Big League in 2027 where the likes of Jack Smith will be needed to fill Second string slots......

It’s a mouthwatering prospect isn’t it Taps. Excited already!!

[Fromafar]

12 minutes ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look forward to the One Big League in 2027 where the likes of Jack Smith will be needed to fill Second string slots......

Get what you’re saying,but that’s the state the sport in Uk.There’s no quick fix .IMO

[Hamster00]

21 minutes ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look forward to the One Big League in 2027 where the likes of Jack Smith will be needed to fill Second string slots......

Any chance you can explain to me your end game with your endless posting about how crap in your eyes one big league would be?

Every time we go back and forth you agree with me that big changes are needed, you’ve even agreed with me that Ipswich don’t do everything right and that the top league isn’t sustainable as it is?

We know you have disdain for the championship and the quality of it and of course Poole and Glasgow for not bowing down to Chris Louis and moving up a league.

But I really don’t get your end game other than to act entitled and make on that you are cleverer than everyone else for thinking you’ve got the future of the sport sussed out?

[Ben91]

5 hours ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

 

Look forward to the One Big League in 2027 where the likes of Jack Smith will be needed to fill Second string slots......

Going to put a lot of points on his average in 2026 is he? Only way he'd be a second string in one big league. 

[Fromafar]

6 hours ago, szkocjasid said:

Normally with the rolling averages it'll take some time for big changes. But in Palovaara's case he'll be dropping his high scoring reserve rides first, so potentially gives Berwick room for manuvre.

Normally I wouldn't expect a knee-jerk reaction from them if the team doesn't start well. But they made a quick change last year with Borke.

There so little fixtures and monthly average changes it has little effect on Team Changes nowadays.Fixture list is very lopsided also hinders changes in some cases.