No win by more than ten in ten rounds for Bradford (47 points) but they continue to move closer to that first league title. The nervy Speedsters went five points clear at the top of the division one standings with a draw at bottom of the table Harringay, a poor result in the end given they were never behind the hosts—who have won just five of their 30 league meetings all season—and twice led by six. It was two points out of three all the same, it could have been three though, and would have been but for a last heat 4-2 from the Hoods, Ross Nicholls (8) finishing last in the decider, having also done so in heat 13. Earlier Bradford eked out a 46-44 home win over Belfast thanks to a last heat Nicholls (13) winning 5-1, the Sinks taking the bonus by eight in that one. Crucially second placed Totton (42) dropped the bonus in their home win over Long Eaton (41), who climb above Houston (41) and into third on points difference.

A couple more wins from their remaining six meetings should be enough to seal Barnsley back-to-back promotions. Top flight racing beckoning the Bears after just two seasons in the sport following their 42-47 victory at Stourbridge, who have slipped two points adrift of safety in the relegation zone as a result. Harry Nicholls (14) was beaten for the first time on the night in the last, as Uzor Rosko (12+1) secured Barnsley their fourth away win of the campaign. It continues to be a Matt Akers 1-2 at the top of the second tier standings, with his league ever-presents Hallamshire now 11 points clear of fourth placed Sedgley with 18 left to ride for. Sedgley drop out of the top three after behind held to a home draw by Stirling, who replaced them in the promotion places, a fourth win of the night for Joseph Goldwire (14) securing two of the three league points on offer for the Seahawks in the last heat decider.

Dudley (54 points) continue to dominate division three but it’s all change below the Cheetahs. Buxton (43) have dropped from second to fourth after they suffered their first home defeat of the season, as crucially it came against one of their promotion rivals, Wednesfield (47). The Wasps took all three points in the crunch encounter, 44-46, after scoring 5-1’s in both heats 14 and 15, Jarek Szczepanski (12+2) winning the first as a tactical substitute and finishing second in the decider behind Tobor Andros (15 from six). Bridgwater (48) meanwhile have moved up two places back into a season high second after picking up the maximum six league points in the latest set of fixtures, three of which returned for a 44-46 victory at Chesterfield, where Jason Wallis (10+1) picked up two heat wins from reserve. Dudley’s latest away win was also by a two point margin, Samuel Hill scoring an unbeaten 18 in that one at Kent.

A Hallamshire success again in the SL18 GP series but this time for Rafal Grabowski (12). He topped the standings in Mansfield to take the British GP crown by a point from Staffan Juhlin (2nd), Reece Hopper (3rd) and Ethan Mason (4th), the victory the third in the GP’s of the 25 year olds career. Fellow Pole and Hallamshire team mate Marcin Jaworski (10) still leads the way at the top of the World Championship, with Juhlin—a point adrift—now the only realistic obstacle to the 21 year old winning a second successive world title.