StevePark

With Ippo 2 up on aggregate. I'm guessing Ippo will go through to the final as Worky won't want to stage another Double Header next week (my guess. I don't actually know, of course!).

Yet, according to the Berwick Twitter feed - "Late change for Redcar, Adam McKinna replaces the ill Max Dilger"......

According to 'the Journal', Newcastle's guests are Paul Starke and Michael Palm Toft.

It's not 'over two legs' though, is it? It's two seperate matches.

It depends on the agreement with the Rugby club as far as stadium rent is concerned. It could be that the agreement is for each meeting and a double header might cost more for rental (I obviously don't know, which is why I say "could"). There will be two lots of points money, two lots of away travel money, four sets of tyres and perhaps extra medical cover expenses too. The tyre cost alone will be in the region of £1200. As a recent guide, Somerset recently charged £23 for the double header with Newcastle, whilst the return double header at Brough was £25.

Can't argue with that. Now we have rolling averages, perhaps all matches should be included.

You're original argument didn't include the KOC. You stated "Thats what I was saying to a mate last week who was convinced they did. However there is no more reason for them not to count than the north/south split League Cup fixtures from the start of the season that do so my mates view is not completely stupid albeit wrong!" The KOC isn't included because teams ride an un-equal number of matches, this 'back in the day' when the Premier Trophy had an equal balance of teams in each group, so all teams (use to) ride the same number of matches in the PT.

Yes there is. All teams were involved in that tournament, whereas Plymouth are not in the play-offs/PCT, so not all teams are involved.

He doesn't (as far as I know) and his PL average is higher than Steve W's anyway!

Which one is the NL guest?

Matty Wethers guests for Richie for the Diamonds.

Live updates should be available here :- http://www.newcastlediamonds.co/live/

Paul Starke guests for Steve on both Saturday and Sunday.

Should also remind people it is a 7pm start on Sunday.

It's not a two leg match. It's two separate matches. So both teams are trying to collect all 3 league points on their home track, although race-points difference could be crucial.

www.grtmedia.co.uk If you are at Somerset this Friday, it should be on sale down there, too.

No they're not..... not yet anyway! Whilst I am against the Play-offs to decide the League Champions, as it has already been stated on many threads, speedway isn't the only sport with a play-off system to decide the Champs. Rugby League, Rugby Union, Aussie Rules, American Football (Superbowl), Baseball, Ice Hockey and Basketball to name just a few, use the Play-off system to determine the Champions. At least in RL the team finishing top at the end of the 'regular season' get a trophy. Does that make all the above sports 'a joke'?

I really don't know why a few on here are saying we shouldn't have picked Somerset and it was for convenience only. The Diamonds lost by just 3 points at the Oak Tree Arena (48-45) and maybe could and should have actually won that match and beat them at Brough 51-43. If that had been in the Play-offs then we would have had an away point and all 3 home points and I doubt people would be complaining. If's and but's, I know, but there is another way of thinking about why the Diamonds chose Somerset, rather than Workington (who we have to meet in the KOC, so same situation as Somerset) or Edinburgh, who, I am sure most will agree, were the team to avoid.

PL Play off first then League Cup Semi.

Ben Morley guests for Steve tomorrow (source 'the Chronicle').

Ben Morley guests for Steve at Brough (source 'the Chronicle').

I O W at Mildenhall on Sunday (another double header!!!). NL Rider who hasn't got a PL average over 3.00, is how I believe the rules read regarding NL guests, but I could be wrong!

10 down in the League Cup, so I would expect to overturn that on Sunday. As for the other (PL PLay-off) Somerset got 3 points in the Mini League and we got none. I would expect it to be roles reversed (i.e. Newc 3 Som 0) on Sunday.

According to the Chronicle, yes he is.

No idea.