Islander15

I would love you to be right greyhoundp about cleaning up the league, but what I don't think you'll be right about us signing a number 1 other than Danny. But it's Wednesday, so what was this supposed big announcement...? If the points limit is 38 then I would like to see a team like this: 1. Danny Warwick 7.01 2. Ben Hopwood 6.16 3. Aaron Baseby 5.26 4. Paul Starke 5.70 5. Lewis Blackbird 7.01 6. Dan Stoneman 3.83 7. Adam Ellis 3.00 Total: 37.97

Looking at some of the teams Mildenhall could line up as next year I think they are favourites even at this early stage. The likes of Stefan, Jacobs and Blackbird at the top of the team can all put over a point on their average, whilst Bates could put over 2 points on his and Stoneman could double his. As to the other 2 riders I'd go for Baseby and Terry-Daley, if the limit is 40 otherwise a 3 pointer instead of Baseby.

Coventry joining the NL, have I missed that? Keep averages to be changed at 3 home & 3 away,but include the first round of the KO cup, because everybody is in it! Make sure league meetings, KO cup etc are done by mid-September, so October will see the play-offs and finals only! Whilst these meetings don't have tactical rides. Reduce the points limit to 37.5 or 38, like Philk has said, but I would also make it mandatory that both reserves that start the season have a 3.00 average. And get rid of the stupid 1 rider over 30 rule. I don't understand why this league doesn't allow guests for anyone other than your #1. Surely this can change, to create more even teams in the event of an injury happening with not time to sign anyone (dudley in the play-offs for example).

Islanders are at Buxton on Sunday 21st also... or just give the trophy to Mildy...

Found a stream racers & royals?

I assume Newcastle picked Leicester first, but who did Scunny go for first? Edinburgh or Workington?

He's born to English parents and has lived in France pretty much all his life, including now I believe. He's declared as the Islanders' number 8 and has appeared in about 3 or 4 meetings this season averaging around the 5 point mark. I'm not definitely sure of his age, but he was originally in the British under-19 final.

Im sure there will be. I'll be making the thread later on. Come on you Islanders!!

I agree with your reasoning, but if KL were warned, would they come back next year? Even more so if they were to start on a deduction. Something though does need to be done, to try and make it a level playing field for stand-alone and second teams. If the deadline was extended to Saturday, then IOW and Rye House could overtake Stoke (putting them 5th). Extending it to Wednesday, would mean Stoke could reclaim a play-off spot.

Probably because when the deadline was extended, whoever decided it thought that Stoke would have enough points (which they have) and didn't consider the possibility of a late charge from Rye. Good on 'em though!

I think everyone agrees this should be sorted on the track, but you do have to ask yourself why haven't these meetings already been ridden? I'm sure if you ask any of the riders involved, then there may well be extraordinary circumstances this season, but if they miss out on at least 2 extra pay days, and possibly a league title because of logistics then I'm sure they wouldn't be happy.

The table have Scunny in 4th at the moment, so presumably them because they have more race points. Seems that only Scunny have been told that the cut-off date is now the 19th

What's the likelihood they do a Stoke and take a rider who already has a club!

Yes, you're right. It surely doesn't take much to put the date of the deadline on the table page of the BSPA site alongside the leaue scoring system.

BSPA site confirms that Scunthorpe have a play-off spot, so it must be before the Isle of Wight's next meeting (KL away) on the 19th. I still think it's the 16th, which means 1 meeting before the dead-line for Stoke and that's tonight, a draw is all they need but it is against Mildenhall. If they lose, what's the odds on their meeting with Rye House, at home, getting rushed in??

Anyone know the exact date of the play-off deadline? If it is the 16th, like I was told, then 2 points for Scunthorpe tonight will guarantee themselves a play-off spot, as the Saints have a better race difference than the Islanders and our final meeting against King's Lynn away isn't until the 19th. The Isle of Wight can still take a spot however, if Stoke lose at home to Mildenhall tomorrow. But it does seem farcical that a whole season can pass, and the relative lack of meetings in the NL, and clubs can't fit all their meetings in!

Thanks Aaron

Looks like the Islanders will be giving a debut to Steven Jones, signed to replace Kyle Hughes. I remember him failing to score for Newport last season & only lasting one meeting as a consequence, but did pretty well 'guesting' for the Saints earlier in the season.

What's Stoke's obsession with changing their 3 point riders? I've lost count of how many they've had now! And I thought Ross' scores were improving anyway, as you say Vog I hope he sticks at it.

The British Junior Championships recommence this Sunday. Any idea of the admission and if the Islanders' new signing Adam Ellis is riding? And while I'm here, has anyone got any info on him? I saw he won the last event at Eastbourne but hasn't ridden in any other round.

The Heathens have new averages but because Tom Perry was missing on Tuesday he doesn't. James White-Williams now lines up at reserve alongside Darryl Ritchings. And Roynon is averaging 11.70! Seriously?!

What a strange day! First we lose a reserve to his retirement (I hope whatever you've decided to go forward doing works out for you Dan), then lose another to injury (best wishes Gary), before losing a third after he apparently walked out. I'd love to know what really happened. And that's the second year in a row we've lost our #7 to injury at West Row. That was our third away meeting this season & with our 4 home meetings, gives averages that I've worked out to be (I read somewhere that you always round down, but I'm not sure. The figures in brackets are home / away): 1. Danny Warwick 8.11 (8.57 / 6.85) 2. Kyle Hughes 6.57 (6.66 / 5.42) 3. Ben Hopwood 6.26 (6.44 / 6.00) 4. Aaron Baseby 5.33 (5.50 / 5.14) 5. Paul Starke 5.15 (5.75 / 4.34) 6. Gary Cottham 4.80 (5.33 / 3.55) 7. Dan Stoneman 3.00 (He's only ridden twice away, otherwise 4.40) With a team total of 39.22, the injured Gary & retired Dan could be replaced by Marc Owen & a 3.00. Not sure how Owen is though, and the recovery period for a collarbone.

I believe you're right Steeplejack, you can be excluded for not making an attempt to race. The time of nearly 80s told you something but I doubt it would have been much better had Warwick's bike not given up. Not a positive evening so I don't want to say too much more than I did on the updates page. Though Jef, on the face of it Baseby's 8+1 was his best in an Islanders race jacket & an impressive away score, but disect it and who did he beat? Only Carr & Walter (excluding fallers and team-mates), 2x 3.00 riders. It does seem to be a tale of our NL campaigns, disappointing away defeat followed by a call to get back to winning ways at home.

The British semi has been called off, so assuming this beats the weather, does that mean Birks will be able to ride? It gives him enough time to get his gear to Stoke but do the Potters have to stick to their declaration for today which has McKinna in?

Not as yet! The Islanders are at full strength but the Potters are missing their top 2 so I'd expect a line-up like this: Stoke Potters 1. Adam McKinna (G) 2. Richie Worrall R/R 3. Tony Atkin 4. Ross Walter 5. Jaimie Pickard 6. Liam Carr 7. Ben Reade Isle of Wight Islanders 1. Kyle Hughes 2. Ben Hopwood 3. Danny Warwick 4. Aaron Baseby 5. Paul Starke 6. Danny Stoneman 7. Gary Cottham Stoke's rider replacement can be taken by Atkin, Pickard, Walter, Reade or Carr. Before I knew of Birks' absence (British semi) I thought a point was possible but now, if I'm honest, we should be targeting 3 points! If you don't beat a side missing their top 2 when are you going to beat them?