crescent girl

Great stuff! Don't any of you folk go to ice hockey?

Now confirmed by prompt e-Newsletter: Matty will be replaced by --- Sam Simota!

Simota for me, he was a willing stand-by when there were doubts about Matty returning from his big crash, and Czechs are always good value at Berwick.

Max Clegg is at No 7 for Edinburgh. Deek is unwell.

Although that wouldn't matter if it happened, since southern finalists won't be known until about then anyway!

From Berwick e-Newsletter: PLAYOFFS! HERE WE GO! Having waited patiently since ending our own PL campaign, we have at last had our Play-Off grouping confirmed. This came after several false-starts, as first-placed Edinburgh and runners-up Somerset hummed and hawed over their choices of opposition throughout Sunday evening. Finally, it has been absolutely confirmed -- only this morning -- that Edinburgh have elected to race against ourselves and Workington, with the top team from the group going forward to meet the winners of the other mini-league, comprising Somerset's choices of Ipswich and Scunthorpe, in a home-and away shoot-out for the 2014 Premier League Championship. We have quickly set up home-and-away matches with Edinburgh (this weekend) and will confirm dates with Workington (as we are both Saturday circuits, this will take a greater degree of organisation) in the near future. Needless to say, when the Comets agree the fixtures, we will keep Black and Gold Bulletin subscribers fully advised. SATURDAY NIGHT: On Saturday, your New Holland Bandits will be hosting Edinburgh in the first of our two home play-off matches. Having defeated the Monarchs in July (in the KO Cup) and again last month on Sky TV, this attempt at three-in-a-row is going to be a crucial hat-trick bid, as in such a short play-off programme, a poor home result isn't likely to be overturned! With Steen Jensen sidelined, Bandits will presumably re-jig the riding order, with rider-replacement for the little 'Danish-Scot' and Kevin, David and the two reserves available to fill his heats. The Monarchs will be at full strength for the fixture. Berwick are the only team to have beaten Edinburgh twice this year -- a third victory on Saturday will be sweet, indeed! SRBF: The Speedway Riders' Benevolent Fund collection, postponed last Wednesday, will now take place on Saturday after Heat 10, with riders from both teams coming into the crowd with their buckets, aiming to fill them to the brim in aid of this most-deserving of causes. HOSPITALITY CLIENTELE! With the sharp end of the season upon us, and the Monarchs -- they claim to be the best team in the League -- in town, what better than a night out in our Hospitality Suite this Saturday? Now get this, despite it being a really big occasion, there is no increase in price! For £35 per head, you'll get admission to the meeting, a free programme, the usual sumptious buffet meal and free drinks -- plus the captivating infield visit during racing! But obviously, you'll need to be quick -- at that price, the places within the lounge will sell out pretty fast. Call Lani Rae right now and reserve your place or places. Call 07779-227535 or e-mail lani@berwickbandits.co This offer is open to Edinburgh supporters too, of course -- no narrow-minded discrimination here! PUT IT ON THE CARD: Remember you can now pay at the gate to enter Shielfield with your Credit or Debit Card. If you wish to use the facility, please use Turnstile number 1. Card payments will also be accepted for purchases in the club shop after 7pm.

That went well, Taff! No messing about up north. First two fixtures Friday and Saturday....

Somerset will also get points tonight, so it won't be settled until the weekend. What might be clearer after tonight is who will be sixth, if Peterborough don't get a win at Plymouth, that'll open the door for Workington. Scunthorpe will be last team picked. Neither of the top two will want them in their section. They're in form, they don't carry a travelling support and are a Friday track, meaning fixture hassles for either choosing club.

Historically, Bandits have virtually always had a Scottish ethic, though. Nearly all the owner-promoters down through the years, the Taylor family, the Fairbairns, Peter Waite and the Andersons are Scottish, only Terry Lindon and Mike Hopes were English. To tease the question further, an independent Scotland might request "all lands north of the Tweed" be returned to their control as part of the discussion to follow next week's referendum. Leaving Tweedmouth in England, of course!

Alex Edberg out of Berwick side tomorrow. James Sargent is replacement.

What gets interesting is that, while if Workington fail by a point to make the top six (admittedly unlikely) this would be 'their own fault' for not staging/completing matches before the cut-off date. But if Edinburgh fail to top the table (again unlikely) by a point because other clubs failed to arrange matches at which Monarchs are the visitors before the cut-off, that makes a difference in the play-off groups, as Somerset would then get first and third choice of opposition.......

Berwick promotion have decided to postpone Benevolent Fund collection until during the play-offs -- which might well also be against the Comics!

That Belle Vue do get a stadium one day is definately important. But do we need two close-to-identical threads running here in parallel?

That Belle Vue do get a stadium one day is definately important. But do we need two close-to-identical threads running here in parallel?

Not quite, although wording could be better-put. It is like in the playgound, the two top teams look at the remaining four, then top team picks one of them, the runners-up pick another, the top team pick the third team they'd like in their group and the runners-up are left with the fat kid nobody wants.

Well, I got my Newsletter! It tells me: It's Worky on Wednesday --- our final home match of the regular season -- and our promotion are doing us proud with £10 admission with kids free as usual, a free programme and (if there's space left) only £25 to join us in our hospitality lounge! The Comets are teetering on the verge of making the play-offs, but will still be desperate to get points from this meeting to overhaul Newcastle in the race for sixth place. On the other hand, the New Holland Bandits are still chasing Ipswich for third slot in the final standings, but will need all three points from this match as well as something out of either (or both) this week's away fixtures at Scunthorpe and Sheffield to haul in the Witches. John Anderson lists the usual September riding order, while Workington will run without Rene Bach, who has a commitment in Denmark. Racing begins at 7.30pm, and at the interval there will be the annual SRBF collection by riders from both teams. Line-ups: BANDITS: 1. Claus, 2. David, 3. Kevin, 4. Steen, 5. Matej, 6. Matty, 7. Alex. COMETS: 1. Josh Grajczonek, 2. Rene Bach (r/r), 3. Ricky Wells, 4. Mason Campton, 5. Kyle Howarth, 6. Joe Jacobs, 7. Simon Lambert.

There is also the concern of three Friday tracks, plus (if Worky get in) two Saturday tracks in the mix. Would it be the case that if (say) Edinburgh chose Scunny in their wee league, they'd also maintain priority of race-night? Ditto if Berwick and Worky are chosen in same group, will Berwick keep their Saturday through seniority?

But if it rains on Saturday......?

Don't think you'll see Rene Bach there.....

I think you'll find it was during the SUMMER that most of the RAIN caused all the POSTPONEMENTS.

Bandits' e-Newsletter confirms teams. Berwick full strength, Matty Wethers fit. Scunny have Hugh Skidmore at No 1. NJL action to follow -- Border Raiders v Workington Meteors.

Bandits e-Newsletter confirms Matthew Wethers has been passed fit to rejoin the team at Somerset. Will ride at No 6 in a rejigged line-up.

And who says the play-offs (and getting to them) isn't fun?

Hardly, the cut-off date is that Sunday, so play-off qualifiers probably won't be known until that evening. September 13th might be used for a rain-off between now and then, but as Bandits are racing at home on Wednesday 10th, a home meeting of any kind is unlikely.

Pleased for Glasgow, getting all the points with a decimated line-up. Sounds as though the folk who chose (always the client's choice) to stay away missed a close meeting. Those Rockets really don't travel too well, do they?