Cup specialists they may be, but Don Valley Vipers found Southampton Scorpions too hot to handle on the south coast this week, perhaps a meeting too far for the busy Sheffield side, who crashed out of the Division One Cup competition at the semi final stage by 20 points. John Shuttler’s Scorpions completed victory with a 51-39 second leg win, it was a good team performances from the home septet, five of whom managing race wins, the pick Petteri Polkki’s (12+1) victory over Matthew Madigan in heat six, the Finn cutting under his prey on the final bend on the final lap to earn the three points. Southampton will face Manchester Marlins in the final, a maximum from Gary Gregory helping them book their place in the last two, both finalists are seeking their first domestic cup win, although of course Manchester are the current league champions.

After leading his side into the Division One Cup final, Petteri Polkki (13) went on to claim victory in the Danish round of this season’s GP series. The 29 year old Finn was a surprise winner in Horsens, his only previous WSO event success back in the first round of the World Championship nearly two season’s ago. Second spot went to Alexandr Shevchenko (12) after he beat Jason Johnson (12) in a race off, Johnson though remains as series leader, he extending his advantage over Daniel Jansson (11) to two points, the Swede this week failing to reach the podium for the first time this season.

Crewe Potters earned an unexpectedly comfortable passage through to the final of the Division Two Cup, they trailed Dunmow Dragons by eight from the first leg, but by the end of heat 12 of the return they’d wrapped up the aggregate win, Danny Cruse (12+2) winning heat 12 in a 5-1 with Alan Tebloev. League leaders Bognor Boxers await them in the final, they completing a 20 point semi final win over Quantock this week. The Division Three Cup final will see rookies West Norwood Kestrels and Gateshead Gladiators match up against each other, the Kestrels added to their first leg win over Westgate by recording a 42-48 victory over their semi final opponents on their travels this week, David Last (13) top scoring for the visitors.

Sankey Sharks latest home fixture saw Irlam Tigers add another nail into their coffin, the Sharks now 11 points from safety at the bottom of division one, with just 12 points left to ride for this season. Irlam raced to their fifth away win of the season at the Woodlands, an eventual 41-49 victory assured when Modou Dincer (7+2) raced to his first win of the night in a 4-2 in heat 14. Elsewhere Southampton Scorpions all but assured they will stay in division one after earning a draw at Poole, that despite just a six point haul from Garry Matthews.

Bognor Boxers need just two more points to be certain of promotion to the top flight this season, a sensational 43-47 win over California Poppies—who started the week in second—taking them four points clear at the top of division two. Two late 5-1’s from Jiri Besta (12+3) and Daniel Jansson (16) turned the meeting the Boxers way, they had trailed by six after heat ten. California drop to third in the table, with Parkway Pirates up into second after their 41-49 win at the now relegated Wednesbury. In division three West Norwood Kestrels secured promotion with a 56-34 win over Wandsworth, meanwhile Friston Foresters took the advantage in the battle for third when winning 42-48 at Barking, a heat 14 5-1 from Rene Moller (11+2) and Dwight Cooper (7+2) scoring the points at the Clan. Friston, who started the week just a point ahead of fourth, end it five clear.