WITH Plymouth's long-distance travellers due to set off from their Devon coastal homes, the sad but sensible end of British Speedway's longest run without a rain-off came just before 5pm on Saturday.

The 'Meeting Off' signs had been consigned to the cupboard since 1994 and there was frustration all round in the Spray-Tex Crusaders' camp.

One of the country's newest but most thriving clubs, Plymouth had been due as first-time visitors to the Iwade track and Crusaders team manager Chris Hunt had the high-flying Devils firmly in his sights.

He said: "Results haven't gone our way this term and where as we sat bottom, Plymouth would have gone into the match level top.

"But the spirit in our camp is high and has been buoyed up by the general acclaim we've received for our battling performance in our last meeting away at Scunthorpe."

The meeting was due to be the only home fixture this month for Hunt's charges, but an early decision to rain-off was inevitable when one surveyed the waterlogged state of the Old Gun Site circuit.

More frustration emerged when Hunt found out that this weekend's long trip to take on the Cleveland Bays has also been postponed.