crescent girl

There's no reason to suppose this match won't be a close contest -- the Sky match with Newcastle in 2013 saw an understrength Diamonds' squad take a big enough win over the full Berwick side -- and Peterborough last season turned up understrength and guest-heavy, and that was a walkover for the Panthers! This'll be a good night too, both previous Sky Sports visits have been well-supported, and Berwick know how to put on a good show for the cameras.

The guests will be like-for-like and Panthers with benefit from r/r for Grondal, who wouldn't have scored many. The changes therefore favour the Panthers, so the contest will be as close as if had they brought their Danes. Lambert is there, and he's the big attraction. Sky being in town will add a touch of glamour to the occasion. Not Berwick's fault by any stretch.

What's unfair on a promotion is that Peterborough are arriving with a strange-looking line-up thrust upon Berwick's promotion (and Sky Sports) at a very late date. The Bandits have a guest and r/r because their No 1 and No 2 men in their averages are injured. Part and parcel of speedway, and always has been. The Panthers are injury-free, yet now announce a team with two guests and r/r. At the very least, that sounds naive.

TJ will be there. Berwick do their homework. This is not Berwick's fault, nor that of Sky Sports or the BSPA. When the date was rearranged to provide the PL with another televised showcase, there was no warning from Peterborough when they accepted the new date they might not have their full squad available.

Bandits will have to change their programmes to accomodate Panthers' changes, and I'd imagine Sky will be going ballistic! Details for line-up changes will doubtless be in e-Newsletter planned for tomorrow. Just hope no-one is going to blame Berwick for any of this, although the main draw (Robert Lambert) will still be there, of course.

I'm sure, too. Of course the same rules apply. But Edinburgh, like Berwick, tend not to announce signings before they're validated, or at the very least would use the caveat of "pending MC approval" if a need for publicity prevails. Peterborough fans now feel disappointed in their club because they thought they had a big new signing, who seemingly now won't be appearing. Whoever they now sign might be a bit of a let-down. Whereas, if you don't say anything until you have the rubber-stamp on the 1-7, your fans are all happy with you. His name's Robin.

I don't think it is crazy to ignore a written rule, it is at that point you would create a precedent. Berwick had a few moves blocked back in wee Peter's day, but since the current promotion came in and Dennis began to handle the paperwork, the club has been better-served in such matters. Peterborough's biggest mistake was announcing the planned signing without even adding the caveat of "pending BSPA approval" although the sensible way to do things is not announce anything at all until signed, sealed and delivered.

Er, and how do you get around his Polish licence?

Bandits currently in top six, and have raced (along with Worky) fewer matches than the rest of the league.

e-Newsletter confirms Ryan Fisher as Bandits' guest for this meeting. Plus Richard Hall is back. With Thorssell joining the Panthers, this could be tasty.

Third year in a row for Sky Sports cameras at Berwick. Programme starts at 7.30, parade around 7.15 (ish) with turnstiles open at 6pm. All paying spectators get a free programme, and another free programme when they attend the following meeting (against Ipswich on Saturday 11th).

Good idea. Good headline. Great achievement.

Your ideas sound good. Have you sent them to the club by e-mail, as they encourage people to do in the programme, and regularly in the Newsletter?

According to Bandits' e-Newsletter tonight, it'll be a nice night and plenty going on -- NJL mini-match and SRBF collection in addition to the PL clash. After Ricky Ashworth's visit last week, and with Ben Barker, Matic Voldrih, Hynek Stichauer, Claus Vissing and Kozza Smith all long-term hurt, minds will be concentrated when the buckets come around.

e-Newsletter tonight confirms Bandits' guest as Richie Worrall. He certainly did a job for the club at Redcar, here's hoping for more of the same.

Both previous Sky meetings at Berwick were discounted (I think a flat £10, all children free) and it would be expected this will be continued next month. Both the meetings had big attendances, although with local opposition -- Peterborough won't bring many on a Wednesday -- but a first look at Robert Lambert is an attraction all on its own. Really impressive -- three years in a row! As the big man said, we must be doing something right, after all!

I agree, we've had some good stuff on here in the last couple of days, people recognising that a club which must be haemorrhaging thousands of pounds cannot just go out and buy a spare superstar, and needs their supporters to support. Constructive, not destructive, criticism must always be welcome -- there are those who cannot recognise this fact. Perhaps their relative absence in these couple of days has contributed to the sense and sensibilty which has taken over -- perhaps, at last, people are realising the severity of the situation.

Linus has (again) been approached by a number of clubs this season and last, almost certainly including Berwick. However, to date he has not shown any inclination to ride in Britain again. Klindt is definately out injured, was involved in a big pile-up in Denmark a couple of weeks ago involving Leon Madsen and (surprise!) Nicki Pedersen.

The club would have certainly re-engaged Pepe in a heartbeat, but examination of his continental commitments (not all the kind that allow a facility in his place) mean he would have missed far too many Bandits' meetings. The same is true about Matt T, with the further problem of his not being an asset. James Wright hasn't raced (other than the odd outing in 'fun' meetings) for a couple of years now, having retired during 2013 because, I believe, of the effects of a couple of nasty concussions. However, he would still carry an average -- even after reductions -- far in excess of Hynek's, and I'm not sure if he could be seriously considered as any kind of replacement for Claus. But thank you for making reasonable suggestions.

Kauko has absolutely resisted all offers (from tracks with a LOT more money than the Bandits have available) to ride in Britain this summer. Joe Tobacco hasn't quite got back to his pre-injury form (if he had, he's be at Armadale) and has quite a few continental commitments. Don't know Magnus' situation this year, but can't believe he hasn't been asked by several UK clubs and declined. Again, if he's turned down bigger money, Bandits are unlikely to be able turn his head. However, it is refreshing to see reasonable, constructive suggestions being made, and for this you must be commended.

Certainly hope he can cut it. The club has been urged to make a signing, they have done. Let's all back the boy. Fernando's arrival at Berwick had nothing to do with Dick, by the way. First contact he had with him was at Redcar on Thursday, Coty had been living in Berwick for ten days by then.

Very supportive comment there, Taff. Well, that's the beauty of sport. Anything can happen -- let's see if it does. As long as everybody tries their hardest for the cause -- on the track and in the spectator areas -- we should have a good night out.

Greg Hancock is clearly a super-hero. He sells an extra 10,000 seats at Cardiff with one bound!

Backs to the wall for Bandits with Ben Barker out and a baptism of fire for Fernando Garcia -- should therefore be a pretty interesting night out. Should be a healthy attendance, posters up all over town and the fans hungry for some speedway after the three-week hiatus. Weather forecast looks good too, going to be warm for a nice change! Berwick still to name a guest. Devils at full strength. Bandits: 1. Guest, 2. Garcia, 3. Vissing (r/r), 4. Jorgensen, 5. Doolan, 6. Edberg, 7. Hall. Devils: 1. Newman, 2. Holder, 3. Fisher, 4. Kurtz, 5. Risager, 6. Benko, 7. Simota.

A lorra, lorra guests...... Newcastle have Richard Hall and Kevin Doolan booked in for tomorrow. Dunno who to replace.