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I wasn't at the match, but considering Lidsey beat Klindt in heat 13 & had scored 10 points, I wouldn't call it a strange decision. Sounds like the had a choice of 3 options, none of them wrong.

Leicester have a good chance here

Middlesbrough (Redcar) have already called off their NDL fixture.

The problem with points per meeting, is that it doesn't show a home / away split. I'd look at away points gained - home points lost (bonus points count half) for a truer "ranking". Although the two systems give pretty similar results anyway. Glasgow + 5 Scunthorpe + 4 Poole + 2.5 Edinburgh + 1.5 Berwick - 0.5 Redcar - 2 Plymouth - 2.5 Oxford - 3.5 Workington - 4.5 After that I'd look at meetings remaining. Oxford only have 2 away matches left, so not much opportunity to increase their "ranking". Berwick have ridden only 1 away match, so plenty opportunities to pick up away points. Interestingly at home every club has ridden 3 or 4 home meetings, so that's very even. Apart from that, you could look at who still has to race Poole at home, as that's the most likely home loss, although less so now Cairns & Rushen are in the top 5.

Most predictions are based on who can improve their averages, Scunthorpe had one rider who was clearly going to lower his average in Pickering. So they would naturally be ranked low. If you go by current rolling aves Scunthorpe are 3rd lowest fractionally above Workington & Plymouth, who would be higher with Cook or Thomsen, you can't legislate for team changes pre-season. So predictions based on finishing averages would be quite accurate. What Scunthorpe have done, is perform really well in a couple of away matches & if they keep winning at home, will deserve a play-off spot. Well done to them, but I still feel it was a sensible pre-season prediction as you could argue only Pickering & Ingram have exceeded expectations.

Zagar couldn't replace Batchelor as that would be over the points limit, so had to bring him back for his injury replacement. With management committee "approval" Northampton could now bring Jeppesen back in for Batchelor.

For a professional sportsman, phoning to say you are running late isn't a good look in the first place. But if he's well enough to drive home, he should be well enough to make it to the track to see a doctor right? Be far quicker than using the NHS to get a sickline.

The 7 day suspension should stop that happening though? Mind you with fewer fixtures these days, riders probably won't miss much. What I don't get about the guest rules, lets say I suggest you shouldn't get a facility if a rider misses a match to race abroad, the response is normally "that will lower the crowd / it's not fair on the fans / it's not fair on the team" - but in an instance like this when no facility is allowed, all those reasons don't matter?

Pleased for Northampton.

I just feel there must be a contingency for if someone falls ill on the day? Even the no facility rule means you get a 75% guest, of course at short notice, Hodder is probably the best they could find anyway? I guess it's possible that would have counted as withholding hos services & he'd get a longer ban then? Shame he didn't have a Danish league match today, then he could have missesd both fixtures without picking up a ban & Witches could've used a guest 🤭

Jeppesen back in for Batchelor?

I don't get how there's "no facility", surely Ipswich could move r/r to cover Lawson (means Brennan gets an extra ride) & use Hodder for King? Lawson then gets a sick note & a 7 day suspension.

Still looks a tough ask with 2 home defeats already, but they now look better placed than Plymouth. Could do with taking points off Edinburgh & Berwick.

Very clever

Not that it'll matter, but don't understand replacing Joe T with a tac sub, I've always thought it's best to replace a reserve, if the reserve then finds form, he can still get extra rides, but replace a second string & he can't - look how Joe's going now! Of course if you're only 6 points down, you may think don't want to miss the opportunity, but that wasn't the case tonight. Plymouth's play-off chances probably over now.

Indeed, shocking start by Lambert 😆

I really liked thar format. Would be especially useful in the National league.

Totally agree with you there, as good as Nicholls has been doing lately, everyone will have a poor score eventually. Plus having seen how well some of their youngsters go round their home track, it's no shame losing to Ingram et al round Scunny.

Been very hard to see news of this match from Plymouth. Announced they were looking for a guest for King, on their website announced r/r but nothing on FB. Then this morning, still hadn't seen the result posted by Plymouth? Especially at a time then the Speedway GB site appears to be having issues (not posting results).

Has to be Jepppesen for me, his 4.48 average just fits below PHB. Would strengthen Witches quite a bit imo

Strengthens Glasgow imo

I'm not sure about both guest choices. Is Foord better than Pedersen, Hagon & Hodder taking r/r rides? Is Perry better than Kennett, Wood & Ritchings taking r/r rides?

Yeah anyone suggesting that is a bit of an idiot, as you say Poole could've replaced him anytime. A conspiracy theory, would've be Poole preferring to use r/r when they had strong reserves & telling Bowes to take his time with his comeback?

I wouldn't call it a disaster, not even sure it's a 5 horse race for the play-offs. Lynn having dropped 4 points at home (none scored away) and Witches having gained 2 points away (none dropped at home) is a great position for Witches to be in. My first thought was, its a great result for Lynn, as they try to avoid the wooden spoon. Don't really know what's happened to Brennan? Not the form I expected.

Can't see that happening, his current converted average would be 10.69!