European Cup finalists Caversham missed out on the opportunity of another late season cup outing after Long Eaton extended their KO Cup tie winning sequence at Kings Meadow. Seven aggregate successes in a row now in the competition for the holders, a run which began at the same venue in the first round nearly two years ago. A 16 point win over the two legs then, a less comfortable margin of six this time around, which they gained in the first leg on home shale, with a draw at Kings Meadow taking Martin Smith’s side though to the last four. It was far from easy for the Rifles, who fell behind on aggregate to a Swans 4-2 in heat seven, however victories in successive heats from Adam Lucas (12) would completely change the complexion of the tie. Sent into heat eight as a tactical substitute by Smith, the England star demolished his opponents to earn his first win of the meeting, with a 4-2 secured by Riccardo Sorrentino’s third place finish. Lucas returned a race later to make it back-to-back successes, this time maximum points going the way of the visitors as another substitute—Ethan Robertson (9+1)—followed him home in second. A run of five 3-3’s all but secured Long Eaton’s passage through to the last four—a run which included a third straight win for Lucas—a last heat 4-2 won by Edvar Medved (13) would take them through by six and ensure the second leg would end tied at 45 apiece. Long Eaton take on Totton next, they beat Hallamshire by 11 on aggregate in round three, with an all top-flight semi-final line up completed by Bournville—whose second leg meeting at Wednesfield also ended all-square—and three-times winners Houston.

Belfast have been dragged into the relegation fight by Bournville who claimed a memorable 44-46 league victory at the Titanic this week. The Sinks third home defeat of the campaign leaves them just two points above the drop zone, battling to stay in a division they have spent the last 17 seasons in, and finished in the top two of in each of the last six. In contrast it’s a debut campaign for the Badgers at the highest level, and they’ve been in the bottom three for the vast majority of it. They remain so despite securing their second away win in division one, which was completed by Alex May’s last heat victory over Durko Karban (12+1) and with the help of two race successes from second string Oliver Lane (8). Balham kept their noses in front of Bournville, just the right side of the safety line on points difference thanks to their own victory on their travels. A 42-48 success achieved at Harringay for Andy Fowler’s side, who dominated with 11 race wins to the hosts four. Marek Wieczorek (13+1) picked up four of those, but it was a second victory from reserve Gareth Walker (6) which helped secure the points in heat 14, a 5-1 in that taking them over the line.

Staffan Juhlin (13) has gone top of the World Championship standings after winning this season’s Finnish GP in Pori. At £66,000 from Horsens four years ago, the now 25 year old Swede will go down as one of Caversham’s best ever signings, this now his second career GP success, and one earned with relative ease, a last heat second behind defending world champion and opening round winner Marcin Jaworski (8) ensuring he wasn’t taking to a race-off by Barnsley’s WU21 champion, Jan Vogel (11). Vogel, who is just 19, had done enough for second on the night, remarkably the series surprise package is also up to second overall, a point clear of Jaworski who drops to third having failed to score in his first two races in Pori.

Northern Ireland sensation Paul Griffin (15) scored a maximum in this season’s BU21 Final to claim his third British youth title win at the age of just 16! It’s the biggest prize yet for the Belfast reserve, who won the BU19 crown earlier this year and the BU16 title in SL17. He beat Samuel Street (14) by a point to take the trophy, the two qualify into the WU21 Championship along with the remainder of the top seven from this weeks Heath final.

Hallamshire moved closer to a second Division Two double in five years after they extended their winning run in all competitions to five. Two of those victories came away from home this week, the first in their Division Two Cup semi-final opening leg at Stirling, where they smashed the hosts 36-54, Gustave Liden (15) racing to five of the visitors 12 successes in the rout. Prior to matching their club record win on the road, Matt Akers side had beaten Sedgley on their travels 42-48 in a then top of the table clash, the Sprites suffering their first home defeat in nearly a year after conceding a last heat 5-1 to Rafal Grabowski (13) and Marcin Jaworski (12+2). Sedgley slip to third after the loss, with Barnsley back up to second courtesy of a draw at Southend. In division three leaders Dudley suffered their first home defeat of the season with the visit of Bridgwater, 42-48, before going on to win at Ernsford Grange by four.