Three times winners of the competition Swanage are out of the KO Cup after crashing to relative newcomers to the sport, Newark. It’s only the third time in the last 17 years that the Swans have failed to get through the first round stage of the competition, the reward for Newark in taking their biggest scalp in their 16 month history, a second round tie with holders Putney. Graham Watmough’s side had a good 12 point lead to take with them to Swanage for the second leg of the tie, but no-one could have predicted the ease at which they defended their advantage at Days Park. The hosts were on the back foot from the off in the return, Newark building on their first leg lead with a Robert Knaller winning 4-2 in the first and a 5-1 from reserve pairing Ryan Archer (7+1) and Esa Kugi (10+3) a race later. Race wins in those opening heats were two of only three on the night for the visitors, but remarkably they would stay in front of the Swans in the meeting right up into heat 13, by then though there was no chance of a comeback for the visitors. The minor places for Lee Higham and Archer in heat 12 started the Invaders celebrations, with a 14 point aggregate lead they could now not be beaten and there were still three heats remaining. With the party in the pits in full swing it’s little wonder they conceded two 5-1’s and a 4-2 in those closing stages, but nothing could take their place in the draw for the last 16 away. Swanage were one of three top flight sides to be eliminated in the first round, Milton Keynes and Desford losing out in all division one ties to Wirral and Warrington respectively.

It’s been a poor start to the World Championship for Putney riders, following on from Thomas Marcher’s exit last week World Number three Tamas Siklosi ‘fell at the first’ this, the Hungarian failing to win a race in finishing outside of the top eight in his Continental Semi Final. The meeting in Gyor was won by Newcastle’s Tomas Cernoch (13), victory will provide a boost for the SL16 World Champion—who made a surprise exit at this stage last season—after an injury hit start to the campaign.

SL19’s league championship campaign continues to be one of the tightest yet, with over a quarter of the season gone just four points separate the top eight teams in the standings. Away wins remain at a premium, not one in the latest ten fixtures. West Ham came the closest at Dudley Wood, but they eventually lost out 45-44 there after conceding a 5-0 in heat 14 to David Clark and Dmitry Bazarov, two riders who’d hadn’t scored a point up until that stage.

A paid 13 haul from reserve Grezegorz Paluch sent Barnet into the second round of the KO Cup for the fifth successive season, the division two leaders going through by ten against Newcastle after earning a 44-46 second leg victory in the north-east. The Bandits will face more second division opposition in the last 16 in the form of Dover, first round ten point winners over Cleckheaton.

Bracklesham may be struggling for form in the league—they’ve now lost their last four in division two—but league newcomers Buckingham were easy prey for them in the KO Cup. The Rhinos followed up last weeks 24 point home success with a 43-47 win on the road in leg two, setting them up with a second round tie with another third division team, Bristol. The club would like to avoid regular third division opponents though next season, but that feat is looking increasingly likely after they fell five points clear of safety in division two after a home loss to Nottingham. Jazz reserve Dean Garnham (8+2) provided useful points for his side throughout the evening, before Chris Button (13) and Sami Koukkula (11+1) wrapped up the 41-49 victory with a last heat 5-1, home number one Tomas Lysacek (13) beaten for the first time on the night in the decider.

It was hard work but Cleckheaton got their first away win on the board since dropping into division three at they end of last season, a 42-48 victory secured at basement side Buckingham with a last heat Alex Savory (14+1)/Sergey Siyutkin (13+1) 5-1. The Caiman remain out of the top three though after losing the first bonus point of the season when hosting Motor, the hosts falling short by four on aggregate. Dumfries remain top of the standings, their lead though cut to two points after they were held to a home draw by Hemlington, the Hellcats—who’d lost the reverse fixture in Scotland in the opening week of the season—clinching a point with a last heat Mati Rooba (14) winning 5-1.