Last years defeated finalists Stirling are back in the last four of the Division Two Cup after doing just enough to finish second to Barnsley in their qualifying group. The Seahawks were one of three teams locked on five points after the final set of first round fixtures, with two earned for their 49-41 home victory over the Bears, who suffered their first defeat in this year’s competition. Joseph Goldwire (13) and Ethan Mason (11+3) scored a last heat 5-1 to secure those points on their Shore Road circuit, crucially the margin of the success was bigger than that of Stoke’s over Southend (47-43), meaning Ross Purnell’s side would finish above both the Bombers and East Hull on points difference. Stirling have now qualified through the group stage of the three versions of the competition on seven different occasions, the most by any club that have yet to lift one of the trophies. It’s a side that have turned three of their previous five semi-finals appearances into competition victories (two in the top tier, one in this version) that are next up for Stirling, with Hallamshire progressing as winners of Group B following their 51-39 victory over Sedgley this week. A last heat 5-1 from unbeaten Polish pairing Marcin Jarworski (15) and Rafal Grabowski (13+2) would decide the final group places, with it taking Matt Akers side into bonus point territory, meaning they would finish above the Sprites in the standings on points difference. Like their next opponents, Barnsley, Sedgley had already qualified for the semi-finals prior to this weeks matches, they are looking to win the Division Two Cup for a third time, which would equal the record currently held by Bradford alone.

Two of the worlds top five missed out on qualification for this years GP series after failing to make the cut in their respective third round ties. SL11 and 12 World Champion and current world number three Durko Karban (6) failed to win a race in finishing down in 11th overall in Krakow, he had appeared in six of the last seven GP series. World Champion Marcin Jaworski (14) dropped just a point in taking the meeting victory in Poland, Hallamshire’s 21 year old superstar had also won his first and second round ties this season. SL16 world champion Samuel Hill (12) finished third on the night. Stirling’s Ethan Mason (11) finished a point clear of a group of four riders to win the second of the final qualifying ties at Bradford, the Aussie will make a GP appearance for the first time in five years in next weeks opening round at Totton. World number five Bradley Turnbull missed the cut after scoring just five, his exit leaves Reece Hopper as the only British rider in the GP’s this season.

No change in division one with Bradford remaining four points clear at the top from Houston. They were one of ten home winners from ten meetings this week, beating Harringay 51-39, who remain bottom, 12 points adrift of ninth place Mansfield. The gap between top side Hallamshire and second placed Sedgley remains static in division two, however only after the leaders lost at home for the second time this season, they going down 42-48 to Stirling having previously beaten Shetland by two on the road. The latter was a strong result given Matt Akers was struggling to track a competitive side following the change in averages, key second string Joshua Hay was missing—and has since been loaned out to Balham—leaving the majority of the scoring to be done by the heat leaders, who dropped just two points between them, combining for 38 of the team’s 46 total. They couldn’t stand up to the strong Stirling septet that visited the Tapton Wreck later in the week though, Seahawks reserve Elliot Hunt (11+3) playing a key role in a victory at the circuit which takes them up to a season high fourth. East Hull meanwhile are back out of the bottom three, second string Dominic Pollard (9) and reserve Waltr Kutil (7+2) amongst the heat winners in their excellent 42-48 win at Swinton. In division three a 40-50 win at Braintree helped Dudley extend their advantage over Wednesfield at the top to five points, there was also an away win for Ernsford at Chesterfield, with cup hero Jesus Dollar scoring 18 in the 44-46 success.