READING Racers’ final match of 2018 against Isle of Wight Wizards will not now go ahead and has been awarded as a draw by the Southern Development League co-ordinator Laurence Rogers.

The match was originally scheduled for September 22 at Eastbourne, but fell victim to an early call off due to bad weather.

It was then rearranged for October 6, this time getting as far as the teams assembling at the Arlington Stadium, only for the rain to again spoil everybody’s plans, forcing another postponement.

With the season coming to an end and Eastbourne themselves being involved in the latter stages of the major National League competitions, there were only two possible dates to run the match, neither of which fitted in with the Island team and their riders, despite extensive efforts to get teams together.

Rogers followed a precedent set last year to declare the match a 0-0 draw and award both teams one point, enabling Racers to overtake the Exeter Falcons to finish in the runners-up position, having been level with the Devon side on 10 points.

While it was not the way the Reading management wanted to claim second spot, they were confident had the outstanding fixture taken place, they would have secured the match points, having been unbeaten around the Eastbourne track this season.

They also pointed to the fact the Reading-Weymouth match was abandoned with two heats remaining on a night when they were extending their lead with each race, and would therefore have passed the Falcons on points difference had the match finished.