Scunthorpe V Berwick (pl) 3/6/2016

[Bandit59]

Good win for Berwick tonight and looking at updates quite a few decent races to boot good that Kyle asked to be excused his replacement was even better and TJ on his old track still knows the best way around.

[Paul Johnson]

Congrats to the Bandits. As for the Scorpions apart from Ryan who put in a good effort and young Josh doing what is expected of him ,the remainder of the team are in turmoil

 

Big Josh not doing what we know he can and looks under powered.

 

Andreas , early days but on a 7 average can't see him anywhere near that so far.

 

MPT knows the track backwards and can do much better.

 

Alex, a real worry and major form loss, days could be numbered.

 

Wilko, at reserve, should get shed load of points every week ,but so inconsistent.

 

Presume Rob was as gutted with the display as the crowd were since he disappeared again from the centre green mid match? Nobody even bothered to give us the raffle draw result???

 

Highlight of the match was watching Dumb and Dumber Start Marshalls - white liners of the year!!!

Yes they did announce the raffle numbers and a bit harsh calling them names.... he stepped up to the plate as the normal starter was not available. the lad lives and breathes scunny speedway, if it wasnt for him then there probably wouldnt be any practice or amateur meetings each week,,well done mate you did very well for your first proper match

[bigeddiechek]

Great result for The Bandits!

 

TJ just needed a run without injury and is getting his form back again.

 

Good to see Liam back and into the points straight away too.

Chuffed

[spin king]

I think this meeting was a lot better than the score suggests. We had the usual cracking racing (and finished in under 90 minutes) and, make no mistake, Berwick were sweating after heat 12. It was clear that heat 13 was going to be most important (if not decisive) and so it proved.

 

I find it hard not to have some sympathy for Rob Godfrey. He has easily the best racing track in the country but it never pulls in the attendances the quality of the speedway deserves. Moreover his team simply isn't as good as it should be or indeed good enough.

 

Davies (possibly) aside, I thought they put an awful lot of effort in for little reward but they are just conceding too much at the starts. Even with a track of the standard of EWR you can't do that.

 

Highlight of the match for me was an extraordinary decision by Margaret Vardy in heat 7. Doolan and Douglas were entering the final bend when Wilkinson fell some way back and as they were riding the same line, there was no way Douglas was going to pass yet she ordered a re-run. Unbelievable.

 

The main problem is that even when they were successful crowds were not massive.

 

So on what looks to be another poor season for the club it is hardly surprising that they are down again.

 

You can have the best race track, the best stadium, the best car park or the best pies it won't matter a jot people are more than likely to stay away, and as most speedway fans don't travel away to meetings you need your home supporters more than anything.

 

I think the problem at Scunthorpe is that they had a poor season last season, and Rob Godfrey kept faith a nucleus of those riders last season, which unless that team hits the ground running its hardly going to tempt the stay away fans back to the fold.

 

I also don't think that you will ever get the best out of Josh Auty riding at number 1, I have watched a lot of Josh over the years and I have always said that he cannot ride the number 1 riding position.

 

The first thing that Rob Godfrey needs to do is bring in a rider that will take over the number 1 riding role from Josh Auty, and stop signing the Lyager's and Hollub's of this world.

[eric i]

I think Scunny need to step down to the national league next season, I know Rob Godfrey is not keen on that but it might be for the best at least for a season. The premier league gets stronger year on year, look at the riders that have dropped back down to the premier league and look at how few riders have left. I don't think Scunny can afford to sign a Craig cook or a Simon Stead and instead take a gamble on uncovering a foreign gem.

Edited June 3, 2016 by eric i

[Shadders]

Problem with Scunthorpe is that it's in the wrong place. Great race track, but each time I go I'm surprised how few people are there. Tonight was no exception.

[thebaron]

Came away feeling a bit abandoned tonight. Rob disappearing again from centre field when we need him to keep the momentum in proceedings. It felt very flat at the end and your left scratching your head.

 

It looked a tough meeting on paper and the reality was just that. Berge; Doolan and Tommy Gun were soon posting heat wins and factor in Theo Pjiper and Matty Weathers and by Ht8 the meeting was getting beyond us.

Suprisingly Theo was not fully affective which was probably just as well.

 

We cannot make starts always last into turn one and unless your prepared to shut your eyes and wind it on on the outside your chasing shadows Scorpions did there best to try to get into races notably Ryan and Andreas; and later on Wilko thrashed it round the outside to win Ht12 and that seemed to ignite his meeting somewhat scorewise. Ryan looks the leader in this team right now and was the best of our resistance throughout.

 

Boy is Alex having a hard time; he would have won Ht14 charging round the outside before coming to a shuddering halt on turn two !. Taken out of his third ride in favour of a reserve ride for Wilko. It was a pressure evening for him for sure. In the time I have watched Alex over the years hes a rider you rarely rule out of the race. Speedways unforgiving Alex will tell you that all racers will. Its part physical part psycological and part mechanical; if those variables are out of synch it can be tough going. Alex is still a good rider.

 

But my biggest concern is for Josh Auty he really is out of sorts right now. He will know that better than anyone; once we lose his points at the top end we are in bother. Particularly as we do not have a second big hitter to take some of the burden Josh never gates well; its his trademark actually. Miss the start and then watch him come from the back. But this season he is finding it hard to fight his way through the field.

 

You cannot level any critism at Little Josh paid 5 from three rides is all we can ask. But I think our lack of form might be affecting him as he sees his more experienced team mates struggling for consistency. It does put more pressure upon him for sure. Andreas and MPT have to be allowed to settle in; and show their worth; but you feel that they may not get the time as things stand.

 

We would have preferred Rob to stay centre field and stay with it; like I said we felt a bit abandoned to it; along with the team. Maybe that was a bit of mind games ?. Either way a week can be a long time in speedway to next Sundays clash with Edinburgh Sam Masters & Ryan Fisher both EWR specialists. Sure the management will be looking at what we can do. Talk on the terrace is of Ben Barker; Ty Procter and Lewis Kerr; the latter a suprise leaver at Ipswich.

 

We would be looking at Plan C if further adjustments are made. I think we have to be sure any available riders will improve us if that is what we decide to do.

 

It is hard to think that Robs pre-meeting rally call to the team wont have ramifications after another home reverse. The next few days will tell.

 

Keep backing the team and the club. We got to get it together and we will.

Edited June 4, 2016 by the outsider

[thebaron]

Barkers re-signed for Ippo so forget that one.

[To The Point]

Go on then how many Bandits fans saw the name Berge at number and thought he would flop?

 

Massive problems for Mr Godfrey at the moment, even young Auty could be looking at losing his place.

Not me, that lad wanted to come to Berwick, our club missed a massive opportunity in this young rider.

I think this meeting was a lot better than the score suggests. We had the usual cracking racing (and finished in under 90 minutes) and, make no mistake, Berwick were sweating after heat 12. It was clear that heat 13 was going to be most important (if not decisive) and so it proved.

 

I find it hard not to have some sympathy for Rob Godfrey. He has easily the best racing track in the country but it never pulls in the attendances the quality of the speedway deserves. Moreover his team simply isn't as good as it should be or indeed good enough.

 

Davies (possibly) aside, I thought they put an awful lot of effort in for little reward but they are just conceding too much at the starts. Even with a track of the standard of EWR you can't do that.

 

Highlight of the match for me was an extraordinary decision by Margaret Vardy in heat 7. Doolan and Douglas were entering the final bend when Wilkinson fell some way back and as they were riding the same line, there was no way Douglas was going to pass yet she ordered a re-run. Unbelievable.

I wish Berwicks track was prepared to the same standard as Scunnys, just imagine where Berwick would be in the league

[screm]

Doolan did very well on Monday at Scunthorpe as a guest, our guest No1 very much in form, a former Scunthorpe rider in our team, and a track that should suit our new signing Hummell very well. I see no reason for an away win.

 

Aye Aye.

[To The Point]

Great result for The Bandits!

 

TJ just needed a run without injury and is getting his form back again.

 

Good to see Liam back and into the points straight away too.

Chuffed

Pressure of the No1 position lifted off his shoulders, now we will see what TJ is capable of

[Normski]

Great performance super guest in dimitre berge.Good to see TJ back on form all the team chipped in with points with romamo a bit unfortunate to be excluded after another refereeing masterclass by Margaret Vardy.Off to Rye House today a more difficult fixture but win,lose or draw I'm sure we will enjoy the meeting.

[allthegearbutnaeidea]

Great performance super guest in dimitre berge.Good to see TJ back on form all the team chipped in with points with romamo a bit unfortunate to be excluded after another refereeing masterclass by Margaret Vardy.Off to Rye House today a more difficult fixture but win,lose or draw I'm sure we will enjoy the meeting.

Did Maggy have the oven gloves on when pressing buttons?

[phillwhitewasmad]

Must say it was the most inept display of refereeing I have ever seen

[lewy]

Good word inept describes scunny perfectly wooden spoon contenders

[phillwhitewasmad]

In fairness Lewy after last nights display you could be right wasn't a bad meeting but any team with two riders in third an fourth going into turn one are going to struggle. I had the feeling that we were struggling on track due to the early starts and not having it prepared as well as usually . Last nights display blew that theory out of the water though. Team who are so inconsistent with never more than two riders performing at any time with most constantly under performing. Only riders who can hold their heads high are Douglas and Bailey who are holding up there end of the team. Think there's some tough decisions to be made and glad it's not me making them.

[lewy]

Tbh honest phil some of your team really need to look at themselves because they really are underperforming

[thebaron]

Its hard to explain why the team have gone so flat. Genuinely there was a lot of excitment and plaudits generated after the British Semi Final; so we would do well to feed off that. But the two home defeats have taken the air out it really. More so as we have made changes that have not instantly had the desired effect. The last two meetings have not been near the quality we have come to expect. But the track "conditions" do play a part and we are a team set up to chase opponents down over 4 laps; not win gate go!

 

Peterborough; Sheffield and Berwick have arrived with riders who we know can win races at the EWR. All with at least three in their team. With Scorpions being very much a non gating team and off form its easy to see where meetings can get away from us. You cannot give away much to the opposition at the EWR because theres very little home advantage. So many of the top PL boys know the track inside and out.

 

I do not think there is no lack of effort some of the coming together down the straights as the Scorpions tried to get in the race was alarming Big Josh, MPT, Wilko, Andreas and Alex were all squeezed hard up to the fence at times trying to find a way. So I wont accept the team has downed tools far from it.

 

Sometimes you have to give the opponent a bit of credit and all the victorious visiting teams have had riders in there that were sharper; more determined or on better equipment and you have to look at that and see what we can do to reach that standard. We are not a million miles off ! we still have riders in the team who I believe are some of the best to do the job. Its fine margins mechanical;pyschological; physical and sometimes when your lucks out its out

 

Sat here I have written down 7 names and their current averages all within the 42.50 points limit that on paper might give us a boost into the rest of the season. It involves moving things around a bit and puts MPT at reserve. But I wont put it up on here because I respect all of our team and their effort, daring and skill on our behalf. I hate changing I have said that time and again; I want to trust in the decisions we made coming through for us. But at the same time we all understand that the team; the club; is bigger than anyone.

 

Lets get our heads up and go forward appreciating we have a team to follow at one of the great race tracks in mordern British Speedway History.

 

Keep the faith.

Edited June 4, 2016 by the outsider

[bigeddiechek]

Pressure of the No1 position lifted off his shoulders, now we will see what TJ is capable of

 

I agree Taffy, that and a few meetings without injury to get back into the flow.

 

Great to see him bang in the points, especially after seeing him battle so hard to get back to form.

[fairplay1]

Great performance super guest in dimitre berge.Good to see TJ back on form all the team chipped in with points with romamo a bit unfortunate to be excluded after another refereeing masterclass by Margaret Vardy.Off to Rye House today a more difficult fixture but win,lose or draw I'm sure we will enjoy the meeting.

 

Margaret Vardy was an utter disgrace surely it is time Refs like her were sacked she has not a clue, but still enjoyed a very entertaining meeting and what a great sporting bunch those Scunny supporters always seem to be, I personally hope they can sort out their troubles because the size of the crowd was very concerning, Speedway can ill afford to lose a venue such as Scunthorpe or their great bunch of supporters.