Merseyside go into next weeks Club Pairs final looking to land their first major trophy since winning the same competition 13 years ago. In fact Claus Illeman and Padi Basker’s SL13 victory is the club’s only success during their 26 years in the sport, barring a couple of trophy wins at the second tier level for one of the league’s founder members. That promoter Glyn Hughes will think his club have a chance of ending their drought is down to their semi-final win at Ramsgate this week, Danilo Franchini (14) and Sebastian Lofstrom (8) scoring a late 4-2 over fellow qualifiers Liden (20) to clinch top spot in the tie, in which one of the pre-season favourites—Cradley Heath (15)—failed to make the cut. Liden finished equal runners-up alongside Whitely, who will be bidding to lift the trophy for a second time in four years in next weeks decider at Tottenham. They took the title previously in their debut campaign back in SL23, and are part of a collective run of seven successes by clubs from outside of the top flight in eight years. Wednesfield (21) too will be bidding to keep that run going, the second division side through to their first final after finishing runners-up to Don Valley (23) in the semi-final ridden on their home track, division one duo Brighton (20) and Denaby (19) also qualifying from the tie.

After qualifying for a third Pairs final in five years Denaby went on to make themselves favourites to reach the Division One Cup knock out stage. A second win in as many meetings taking them to the verge of the semi-finals, the 43-47 victory at Ramsgate—aided by a brace of race wins from second string Ladislav Zgonc (9+1)—taking them clear at the top of their first round group. Meanwhile having sat out last week, Cradley Heath—who are in the same section as the Devils—opened their campaign with a 41-49 victory at Liden, where they provided 11 of the heat winners. Both Rudolf Svatek (14) and reserve Harrison Cantrell (8) finished the night with season best figures for the Hammers, who are looking to get through the group stage of the competition for the first time in their history.

Craig Rowntree (8) will get the chance to defend his British crown in this years final after sneaking through from eighth spot in his qualifying tie. A last heat third was just enough for the 34 year old in a tie which was won by Brighton’s Dale Bailey with an impressive 14 point haul. The success was the world number 14’s second at this stage of the competition in as many seasons, he went on to finish 7th in last years final. Runner-up last year—Manor’s Joseph Wall (15)—scored a maximum to win the second of the semi-finals in Newquay.

A last heat 5-1 from Zarek Jablonski (14) and Thomas Bonne (13+4) gave Altrincham their first away win in division two since their relegation last season. The Panthers snatching both points at Dudley, 44-46, in a meeting they had trailed in by 14 after heat six! An even tighter score-line at Tottenham, where London took both league points, 44-45, however they secured them with a penultimate race 4-2. In division three a mixed week for Newquay, who won at Hull (42-48) before losing at home to Bolsover by five. Hertford also won on the road, defeating newcomers Stobswood, 42-48.