szkocjasid

Will probably be a "rising star" next year.

Looking at their Championship averages, why would you not pick Cook ahead of Kemp? Would Workington have signed Kemp as their number one? No. Not working for Cook in the Prem apart from a few good meetings, but I can't blame Dickson for trying him.

Surprised Worrall left in heat 13, but he did his job beating Kvech.

The debate about having Brennan at 2 being a good thing can go on. But if he was at 5, that would mean Worrall wouldn't be!

For a supposedly professional sport, it's a shame clubs don't know the rules, keep nominating illegal riders, then have to correct it.

I have no doubt, Brummies look stronger in those heats, but look very suspect in others now. Unless Pawlicki rides like the heat leader he was signed as. Then Brummies should have no worries at all.

Surely if there's any doubt about the legality of the visiting team, Belle Vue should be putting in a protest?

Yes, that clearly states Edwards is not eligible because he is in a "Premiership line-up elsewhere"

It would make sense for Edwards to be deemed ineligible, otherwise Sheffield would be the only Premiership team unable to use a Premiership rider as a guest RS. If allowed any other club could use Edwards, but Sheffield would have to use an unattached RS. Would be a daft situation where Sheffield were penalised for using more "riding stars" than is necessary.

Garrad has a higher NL average than Hodder. But as Hodder is younger may be the better long term prospect, but if he's not your asset, should pick the stronger rider now imo.

Is that allowed? I'm sure he was previously going to guest, but it got cancelled because he's not Sheffield's "rising star"?

I really don't understand it then?

Yeah, I'd be shocked if Brennan isn't at 5. Ideally should have Lampart at 2, but wouldn't surprise me to see Worrall there.

If Riss was at 5, Hagon couldn't have replaced both Etheridge & Garrad in their last outing, but I know what you meant. I too would have put Riss at 5.

Berwick with a month off now, will there be any changes when they return to track action? Will Borke be fit by then? Looks like it'll be a fight to avoid the wooden spoon when they resume. At the moment I'd say Berwick, Edinburgh, Plymouth & Redcar look like the bottom 4. Think Bandits may be relying on other clubs dropping home points?

I'd say it's not the same riders as it's not the top averaged riders in each team, which has been the case for every NDLRC before (apart from injuries etc).

I would have to go through the fixtures to look, but I can remember a few double figure scores. Logically if his average has risen then for every poor match he's had, he must of had a good match to, otherwise his average would have dropped. Don't forget Kemp got his 5.5 average at reserve last year, this year he's upped that (slightly) in the top 5. I'm sure Kemp will no doubt want to kick on further, but I see no reason for anyone to be unhappy with his form so far.

Would have happened at Oxford on Wednesday if Poole had already ridden their home leg. Won't happen often as draws don't happen often, then can only happen in a second leg, then there's a 50/50 chance it'll be 2-2 or 3-1.

That's a bit ridiculous. Kemp for example has been good this season, you don't drop him due to one "poor" match. Besides he scored his average last night. Strange people don't complain about his inconsistency in the good night lol! The other riders team places could be under threat.

Because Dickson got it terribly wrong. If there was a chance Hagon would have scored in 13, then surely that translates to an almost certain win in heat 14? If riders underperformed, then they rightly can be called on it too. Doesn't mean the TM gets a free pass on bad decisions. The only defence Dickson can have is he thought ht 8 counted as a ride for Garrad & at the last minute was told he needed a 3rd ride, so had rode in ht 14, otherwise he should have been in ht 13. Dickson certainly didn't cause the loss, that was the riders. But it could have been closer for the bonus point with more shrewd team managing.

Great result for Oxford's, makes them favourites in the battle for 4th imo.

Certainly not.

Why is the rulebook so confusing?

Hagon was much more likely to win ht 14 than ht 13, so Garrad should've taken his 3rd ride in place of Etheridge, leaving Hagon in 14.

It's a situation I've not seen before, normally if you're not replaced after a 2 minute or tapes exclusion, it counts as a minimum ride. But as Garrad was brought in as a replacement, who knows? Dickson still got it terribly wrong though.