An opening day home defeat to Nottingham left Sandwell fans fearing a tough season ahead. Not many would have predicted the position the Sabres now find themselves in half a season on, they going top of the second tier standings this week for the first time—taking over from the Red Dogs—as well as reaching the last four of the Division Two Cup. A couple of successful visits to Sneyd Green have helped put them in their enviable position, with Alistair Carroll’s side leading their hosts throughout their cup encounter on their way to a 42-48 victory, second string Anthony Gray (7) earning his first of two heat wins in the tie in a heat one 5-1. The visiting fans had to wait until heat 14 to see their side get their second 5-1, however it was one which secured them the victory which would send them through to the semi-finals as group winners ahead of fellow qualifiers Nottingham. Back at the Superdome a few days later the Sabres were rattling in 5-1’s for fun, five in fact, Gray (6+2) involved in two on this occasion as the visitors fought back from an early deficit to win by ten, the fifth maximum in the last scored by Stradinsh Maris (12+1) and Marek Saidaczka (12+1) taking the margin of victory into double figures. Sandwell will face Buxton in the semi-final of the Division Two Cup, the Bandits booking their place in the knockout stage with a double bonus point clinching 56-34 home win over Rhondda, it’s the first time Martin Harvey’s side have made it through the group stage in any of the three tiers of the competition in their decade in the sport. Nottingham take on two-times winners Timperley in the other last four tie.

Henrik Vargo (12) led the final seven qualifiers through to this years GP series. Signed for just £18,000 by Buxton, the 27 year old Slovenian has made a vast improvement over the year and a half he’s spent in the British League, he currently averaging 10.78 in division two and has to be considered a real contender to win this years world title, an unthinkable prospect at the start of the season. Vargo beat current world champion John Hawke in a race-off to win the Play Off round in Coventry, another five of last years GP riders filled the remaining qualification spots, world number two Yuri Duskin (6) however wasn’t amongst them, the Russian will sit out the SL36 series having raced in the previous 24 GP rounds.

Redhill’s 52-38 home win over Hawick wasn’t quite enough to see them through to the Division Three Cup semi-finals. The Hawks going through to face Group B winners St Barts at their expense despite the defeat, had Redhill taken a 5-1 in the last instead of a 4-2, it would have been a different story. East Goscote topped Group A after completing their first round campaign with a double bonus point winning 55-35 victory over Fenny Stratford, the Gunners face last years runners-up Bolsover in the last four, the Stallions booking their place courtesy of a 53-36 win over Bury, passing the 50 point mark in the meeting key to their progression.

Defending champions Houston are up to a season high third in division one after this weeks results but are still just three points off the relegation places. A first away league victory for the Scots in SL36 has taken some time coming, but they got over the line—just—at St Ives, where a last heat 4-2 from guest rider Milan Grof (14) and second string Mikael Huhta (10) secured them a 44-46 success. Heat leader Richard Coward (5) was again out of sorts in the meeting, his struggles this season has forced George Seymour’s hand in the transfer market, Coward leaving on loan to join Midland following this weeks fixtures, with 40 year old Abdul Mattiasson making the opposite journey. Meanwhile following the defeat—which ended a run of 29 consecutive home wins for St Ives—the Pirates themselves enjoyed a first away win of the campaign, it returned by the same two point margin at York. Wins for all of the visitors top five built their success, which was completed by the minor places from Nalek Walczak (12+1) and Nelek Piotrowski (11+1) in the last. Elsewhere leaders Coventry took a point at bottom of the table Warley after snatching a draw at the venue with a last heat 4-2.

A run of five straight wins sees Sandwell top division two but both Buxton and Timperley have longer unbeaten records. Six and seven respectively for the sides that sit second and fourth in the standings, with the latter extending their sequence with a 44-46 victory at Peckleton, which the unbeaten Mauro Papa (15) secured with his fifth straight win of the contest. Buxton’s latest road trip success was recorded more convincingly at Rhonda, 40-50, 18 year old reserve Jay Partridge (9+2) racing to two heat wins in that success.