The rivalry of a generation continued in Oslo where Adam Lucas (14) and Harry Nicholls (13) battled it out for the WU21 title, this was no test of endurance though, it just a display of some fantastic racing by a pair of riders already at the top of the sport despite still being in their teens. In beating title hopeful Klement Flora (12) in heat one Lucas banished thoughts that this years experience could be a repeat of SL8, in which the Long Eaton man finished down in 13th spot in the final, the victory over the Slovak the first of three straight on the night, the third decisively coming against Nicholls in heat 12. Off gate two Lucas got his rival coming around the first bend, Nicholls squeezed for room on the inside having been outpaced by his fellow Brit. Nicholls went as wide as he dared on the spacious Oslo circuit to pick up speed, but attempts to pass Lucas ended in failure, the title he won in SL8 now Lucas’s to lose. Nicholls was handed the opportunity to fight back by Lucas, who was beaten by Kapolcs Vancura (10) in heat 16, however Nicholls fluffed his lines in heat 19, a poor gate leaving him last around the first corner, two passes saw him claim second, however Lucas went on to win the last and take the title by a point.

A second 44-46 league win in two seasons at Cranford has taken Epping to within four points of safety in the top flight, the clash of the two promoted clubs going the way of the Stags after Antony Davey (7+1) and reserve Peter Brodnik (7+1) answered a Yellowjackets heat 13 5-1 with one of their own in the penultimate race of the meeting. Jeremy Hyatt (11) went on to secure both league points for the visitors by inflicting Mikhail Markowski’s (13) first defeat of the night in the last, Hyatt’s two points for second spot turning a certain draw for Epping into a second away league win of SL9.

Leaders Sedgley were the only side in division two to pick up an away point this week, a draw at bottom side Herne Bay good enough to extend their advantage over Houston at the top to seven points. A successful week for the Sprites who also made it through to the final of the Division Two Cup following a 51-39 semi final win over Wavendon, their first final in any version of the competition will be against Herne Bay, who surprisingly saw off Houston by 16 points, their comfortable victory completed with a 55-35 home win over the Colts in which second string Glenn Fitzgerald (9) raced to two heat wins.

The final of the Division Three Cup will feature newcomers Shetland and Stoke, unsurprising the latter completing a last four win over Stirling this week having won in Scotland last, second string Martin Herzberg (10+1) one of four riders paid for double figure scores for them as they won the return 51-39 at home. Shetland meanwhile successfully defended their 14 point first leg advantage at Buxton, the Bees challenge over as early as heat 12 of the return, in which reserve Kenneth Skinner (7+1) won a second 5-1 of the night for the Ponies. In the league a 43-47 victory at Ferndown saw Stepps close to within three points of the promotion places, Liam Thomas scoring an 18 point maximum for the Angels, who had trailed their hosts by eight early on in the clash.