Just who can stop Barnsley? Not top flight sides Balham, Houston or now Totton, the trio all exiting from this season’s KO Cup at the hands of the division three rookies. Having eliminated last years runners-up and three times winners of the competition, Houston, in the last round, it was now the turn of Totton, who lifted the trophy in SL9 and had been looking to reach their eighth semi-final. Instead it’s a maiden last-four tie for Matt Akers’ Bears, who recovered from the concession of 5-1’s in heats two and six of their home second leg, to win the meeting 48-42 thanks a last heat 4-2. That 4-2 seeing the lead of the tie change hands for the fifth time on the night, along with securing the Bears a two point aggregate victory. Isakov Pavel (12)—who scored just seven in the 47-43 first leg defeat at Totton—claimed his fourth win of the night by beating Bradley Turnbull (10) in the decider, he would have had five wins from five but for an engine inflicted retirement from the lead of heat six. Second string George Shields (12) earned the biggest cheers of the night from the home support however, not just for his third place finish in the last, but for his wins in the three 5-1’s he raced alongside Uzor Rosko (8+3) in in the first nine races of the meeting, he also picked up a crucial second in the penultimate race of the tie ahead of Tigers heat leader Simon Snow, who disappointed to say the least, scoring just three points in the leg. Barnsley go on to face Long Eaton in the last four, the Rifles taking their place in the semi-finals for the first time in six years after completing a four point aggregate win over second division Bournville this week, where a heat 14 5-1 sent them through.

Top flight debutants Mansfield continue to enjoy their best ever season of 17 in the sport. Holding their own at the highest level—they currently six points clear of the relegation zone with just a third of the league campaign remaining—and now into the semi-finals of the KO Cup for only the second time in their history. They required back-to-back 4-2’s at fellow division one side Hallamshire to send them through, their winning margin in the end four points as their opponents rode to just a 46-44 win on the night. Eman Kales (11+2) was involved in both the closing heat advantages, winning the first as a tactical substitute, before taking third in the decider which was won by his number one Hans Willemssen (15), the Dane’s success his fifth from six races in the leg. Local rivals Nottingham await the Yorkies in the last four, the third tier side beating Stoke home and away to progress by 20 points on aggregate. It’s the second time that two third division teams have reached the semi finals—Barnsley of course the other—however we are still awaiting our first winners from that level.

Rafal Grabowski (12)—currently in his fifth loan spell away since signing for parent club Hallamshire in SL12—claimed his second World Championship win of the season to go top of the GP series standings. A first round qualifying win at Swinton earlier in the campaign ended over two years without any success on the world stage for the current Balham loanee, this week he doubled his win tally for the season in the Finnish GP, where he headed the standings from European League duo, Igor Hvda (11) and Tarjei (10). It was a case of sit and wait for the 24 year old Pole after he raced to his third race win of the night in heat 17, he watched on with delight as the challenge of Hovda fell away in heat 19, only second place in the race and on the night for the Pori star. Grabowski now tops the World Championship standings by a point from a group of four riders, opening round winner Lewis Adkins (8), Daniel Pesola (9), Knutsen and Marcin Jaworski (9).

A British Under 18, 19 and now 21 champion. Swinton’s Daniel Griffiths that rider, he scoring a maximum to land his third career youth national title in the BU21 Final at Wednesfield, Griffiths topping the podium from Joe Summers (13) and Joshua Hay (12), fellow semi-final winner Oliver Mellor (9) finished equal fourth. The top seven from the meeting will represent the UK in next months WU21 semi-finals.

With ten meetings and ten home wins it’s pretty much as you were in division one. Long Eaton (37 points) lead the way at the two-thirds mark of the campaign from Belfast (35), with Houston (33) and Caversham (32) completing the top four. Belfast travel to Houston in the pick of next weeks fixtures. In fact of the 30 league meetings at every level over the current two rounds of racing, only Harringay scored any away points. However they did it in style, smashing Buxton 36-54 in the division two fixture on their travels, maximums from Julian Harrison (15) and Liam Harris (14+1) helping Jonathan Symes side set a new club best result on the road in any competition. The Hoods end the week in second a point adrift of leaders Bradford, but more importantly ten better off than Bournville in fourth.