A decade in the sport but not until this year did Buxton contest a divisional cup semi-final. It’s a contest they have won, coming through their Division Two Cup knock-out tie against Sandwell with a two point aggregate victory to their name, their progression secure with a heat to spare of the second leg at the Sabres when their number one Henrik Vargo (14)—who was in the race as a tactical substitute—and teenage second string Jay Partridge (8) scored a decisive 4-2. BU21 Champion Partridge—who scored 14 in the first leg at reserve—was one of five different heat winners for the visitors. Martin Harvey’s Bandits will take on Timperley for the trophy, the SL31 and 34 winners of the competition through to their third final after beating Nottingham home and away at the last four stage.

Last years runners-up Bolsover are back in the final of the Division Three Cup after easing through their last four tie against East Gostcote. A 49-41 second leg loss for Kevin Lilley’s Stallions this week at the Gunners, but it was a result which sent them through to face St Barts by 12 on aggregate. David Grainger’s side were runners-up themselves on their only other previous appearance in the competition in SL33, they made it two finals out of two with a 53-37 home return leg win over Hawick in the second of the semi-finals, second string Luke Wilson (8+3) dropping just a point to an opponent in the victory which sent the hosts through by eight.

St Ives end the week in the top half of the division one standings having inflicted a huge blow to Blackpool’s title hopes. Nick Ward’s side became the first to win at The Tower in over a year after three non-finishes from the home heat leaders in the second half of the clash, the third from tactical substitute Ashley Smith (9) in heat 14 ensuring the visitors would be going away with both league points. Nelek Piotrowski (13+1) won a last heat 4-2 to take the Pirates winning margin onto eight points, his team climb to fifth, long time leaders Blackpool slip to a season low third ahead of their title ‘six-pointer’ at Coventry. York are up to second, they took a share of the spoils at Brighton in a meeting they had trailed in by eight thanks to a last heat Adam Bennett (17) winning 4-2, Warley’s meeting at Beverley also ended all square.

Nottingham returned to the top of the division two table for the first time in six weeks with a 44-46 win at Peckleton. A last heat Herman Stanic (18) winning 4-2 securing the Red Dogs their fifth away victory of the season. In division three Bolsover remain top despite suffering their first dropped points at home in their SL36 league campaign, the Stallions suffering a surprise 41-49 defeat to then bottom side Hawick, after conceding 5-1’s to the visitors in heats 13 and 15. Michael Pfingstl (15+1) won both for the Hawks, second string Franz Gratzei (13+1) finished as runner-up in the finale.

Back-to-back wins for the Brits in the GP series as defending World Champion John Hawke (14) took the Swedish GP title in Malmo. His Coventry team mate Angus Rogers (10) finished on the podium again and now leads the series by a point.