There’ll be plenty of opportunities for upsets in the conclusion of the KO Cup second round ties following this weeks opening leg results. All four of the top flight sides to face lower division opposition lost this week, but still the four will be favourites to progress after keeping those defeats—all on the road—down to single figures. The door is open widest for Fenny Stratford and Nottingham, they beating Coventry and Fort William respectively, 48-42, the Stags—looking to go beyond the second round for the first time in their 12 year history—benefiting from a last heat fall from visitor Anthony Collier, which allowed Steve Hancock (10) and Ethan Mitchell (12+1) in for a 5-1. A heat 13 5-1 won by Jacob Harvey (11) meanwhile took Nottingham ten up against the Wildcats, but a disappointing end to the clash for them, they conceding back-to-back 4-2’s at the death.

The first two of this years GP slots were filled by riders who will be making their series debut. Swede’s Robin Dalberg (11)—who rides for Kassel—and Fredrik Alquist taking the top two spots on the podium of this season’s Scandinavian Final in Malmo after a three-rider race-off, third went to their fellow countryman 41 year old Kristofer Gorqaj, who qualifies for the GP’s for a sixth time. Remarkably the East Gostcote heat leader has finished 13th overall in every one of his previous five GP series appearances. Those finishing fourth to seventh in Malmo—which included world number 12 Branimir Klepp (9)—get another shot at qualification in next months Play Off round, however another of last years GP riders, Rasmus Wihelmsen (6) missed out. Bad news too for British Champion Harry Sloan, an injury picked up in Houston’s defeat at Blackpool this week has ruled him out of next weeks Overseas Final, ending the current world number ten’s World Championship bid.

Coventry bounced back from being held to a surprise home draw by Brighton to claim their third away win of the division one campaign. 31 year old Lee Barnett scored paid ten at reserve for the relegation threatened Rockets as they took two of the three points on offer at Diamond Park, a result which helps them move to within a point of safety. Coventry’s later success—which moves them level on points with Blackpool at the top of the division one table—came at Fort William, where John Hawke (18) winning 5-1’s in heats 11, 13 and 15 secured them a four point victory in a meeting they had trailed in by eight.

Nottingham have extended their lead at the top of division two to three points despite their winning league home sequence coming to an end. Michael Wright’s side dropped their first point at the Greyhound Stadium of the campaign with the visit of Buxton, who scored a last heat 4-2 in the meeting, the Red Dogs responded well though to win at bottom side Sneyd Green, 43-47. Elsewhere Mauro Papa scored 17 for Timperley as they picked up a draw at Witham, that the fourth home draw for the Blacksmiths this season. In division three we have new leaders in Redhill, who inflicted Sawley’s first home defeat (44-46) of the campaign.