Two-times defending champions Eastbourne produced a statement win at Birkenhead to close within points difference of league leaders Timperley. As one of the expected challengers for silverware this season, the four point win at the home of the Bombers was a notable one for the Hyenas, the visitors to the Merseyside Arena overcoming the might of the hosts top five—which includes Pairs Champions Mikhail Smirnov (10+1) and Thomas Forsman (8)—to take all three points with a last heat 4-2. Each of the Bombers lead quintet may have won a race, but they were all beaten at least once by Harry Myers (13), who raced to four heat victories and a crucial third in that last heat 4-2 which was won by Kasper Larsen (13+1). Two of Myers’s four victories were returned in 5-1’s, Smirnov on the wrong end of the Eastbourne maximums in heats six and 13, unluckily in the later, as he wasn’t even in the race having been excluded in the first running. Larsen himself was beaten just once on the night, that defeat inflicted by Bombers second string Ethan Robertson (9+1). No repeat for the Aussie in heat 15 however, he way off the pace in finishing last in the decider. A second away win for Eastbourne of the campaign, but there was some disappointment with Pavel Hubnik scoring just two in what was his second meeting for the club since signing in a £32,000 deal, the inclusion of the one-time WU21 Championship runner-up did allow Marc Labrum the opportunity to strengthen his reserve pairing, with his new bottom two of Jonathan Turnbull and Oliver Porter scoring a combined ten.

Sawley ended their two season run without an away victory in dramatic fashion at Grangemouth. The 38-52 KO Cup first round first leg win coming in just below their club record away success, but it’s one surely good enough to see them on their way to win only their third tie in the competition in their 16 years in the sport. Jason Davies (15) scored his third maximum since joining the club on loan from Eastbourne in the win, the second string topping the individual tallies ahead of 20 year old Ozor Erdos (12+1), who can count himself as one of the most improved riders in any division this season. There was also an away win in the competition this week for another second division side, with Halesowen winning at Lakeside, 42-48, as well as the top flight duo Greenhill and Rugby, who won at Bolsover (42-47) and Burrett Road (44-45) respectively.

World Champion Dusan Hobler (8) survived a late scare to progress from the minefield which is the Continental semi-final stage in this years title race. He recovered from a poor gate in heat 19 of the Lublin contest to pass both Pavel Zirnis (5) and Sascha Huffman (9) to take second spot and a crucial two points. Points which saw him finished eighth of the eight qualifiers, in a meeting which was won by Olga Burdin. The Stone Cross rider confirmed what was only his second career WSO meeting win after beating Mikhail Smirnov in a race-off. Greenhill’s Luca Romano won the second of the semi-finals in Gyor after defeating world number eight Sergey Guerk in an extra race, Guerk will race in his 12th career Continental final later in the season, moving him to within one of record appearance holder, Mario Serao.

A strong week for Halesowen who picked up the first of back-to-back away wins in their division two clash at Wolverton. Despite a promising start to his Wolves career for veteran Steven Burton (6+3), the Heathens took the points 44-46, the visitors taking the lead for the third separate time on the night with a last heat 5-1 scored by Darren Corbett (12) and Ricky Lewis (12+2).

Sunderland have now won nine straight league meetings to move within one of their club record first set back in SL13. In all competitions their current winning sequence stands at 13 since an opening day loss at Grangemouth, with a 41-49 victory at Lakeside this week one of five of those picked up away from home. The Aces bounced back from the loss—they’d won all six previous league fixtures against the Stars at the Ace Raceway by a double figure margin—by winning at bottom side Tey Grove, 43-47. Elsewhere in division three there was a first away win of the campaign for Purton, who beat Denston 42-48 at the Diamonds’ Bet Emerald home.