Jubilee Edition - ENHANCED

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A run of four straight league wins has put Desford Dynamos on course for their highest league finish since their return to the sport five years ago, the Rob Smith side are now firmly amongst a group a four sides with realistic hopes of the title, their visit to third place Putney next week the biggest test yet of those championship credentials. Desford had to ‘start again’ after missing SL12, however back-to-back promotions saw them quickly regain their place at the top table and after two difficult seasons in division one they now look capable of going on to win the title they held in SL8. Cleckheaton was the venue for their second away win of the season, the 44-46 success following on from their eight point win at Wirral last week, an unchanged side from that fixture inflicted the Caiman’s second home defeat of the campaign on them. The closeness of the final scores doesn’t reflect the visitors dominance in the meeting, they never headed in the clash of—on paper—two similar matched sides in strength and set up. Both have match-winners at number four, Sasa Sigl (11) and the visitors Andy Tanner (10+1) perhaps the best second strings in the division, their scoring cancelling each other out this week but it was Tanner who took the all important win when the pair met in heat 14, he and third placed Scott Spencer scoring the 4-2 required to secure both available league points. The win and later home 20 point success over bottom side Peak Dean sees the Dynamos move level on points with both Barnet and Putney, the trio now eight better off that fifth placed Wirral. Willenhall Wolves remain clear out in front, they extending their advantage to six points with a third consecutive set of back-to-back wins, although they were make to work extremely hard for the points down at Peak Dean. Twice the visitors fell six behind their hosts only to respond on each occasion with a 5-1, Bruce Kelly (16+2) and Tim Dixon (17+1) helping to pick up the maximum points in heats 9 and 11 as they in turn entered the fray as tactical substitutes. Much better sides than Peak Dean have been denied by the talented top two in recent season’s, and they had no answer at the death, with Kelly and Dixon again racing to 5-1’s in heats 13 and 15 to secure the victory.

West Ham Dockers may be struggling for form at home, but a second 42-48 away cup win of the month saw them secure a place in the European Cup semi finals for the second season in succession. Horsens were favourites to progress from the tie having held the Dockers to a draw at Custom Court in leg one, and with the Danes going six up by the end of heat nine of the return the bookies seemed to have got it right. Visiting riders though turned up the heat in the closing stages, they winning all six of the remaining races, with top scorer Joe Dawson (15) racing to three of the successes. West Ham will take on Prague in the last four, with holders Willenhall and Putney clashing in the other semi final.

World Number two Kimmo Savolainen (14) became the first rider to qualify for this years GP series after ending Samuel Wiren’s (9) three year reign as Scandinavian Champion. Savolainen recovered from a heat four defeat to Dan Panu—who in the end failed to even qualify for the GP Play Off—to win his first Scandinavian title by a clear four points. Reading’s Kai Fransilla took second after beating Daniel Andersson (3rd), Mirsad Simon (4th) and Roberto Peltonen (5th) in a race off for the minor podium places, Fransilla and Andersson both also gain automatic GP places.

Having ended their reign as KO Cup holders earlier in the month, Wirral are looking to do the same to Willenhall in the final of the Division One Cup, and but for a final heat exclusion for Dennis Aldridge in the first leg they would be clear favourites to do so. As it is the 49-41 win for the Warriors at home leaves the tie nicely balanced at the halfway point, Aldridge furious for himself after denying his side a more comfortable 14 point half-time lead, the re-run of heat 15 ending 5-1 to the visitors, Wirral on for a 4-2 in the first running when Aldridge’s attempt to pass Tim Dixon in second ended with him in the boards. Swanage are in a strong position in the Division Two Cup final having racked up an 18 point advantage over Milton Keynes, while Linlthgow have the edge over Solihull in the final of the Division Three Cup, they 52-38 winners in leg one.

England returned to World Cup action for the first time since lifting the trophy at the end of last season, Alan Fellows making two changes from that winning line-up, Newcastle’s Mark Reid (5+3) rewarded for his fantastic season in division three with a first competitive appearance for the Lions, while Rob Barr (8+1) returned to the side to earn cap number 39. Both played a part in the 59-30 win over Norway, however it was left to Bruce Kelly (15) to take the starring role, he unbeaten in the meeting at Krakow, where the Lions will be back to face the Poles for a place in the last four next month.

Stepps Seahawks improved form continued at Stoke, the Scottish side completing a 42-48 victory at their fellow division two strugglers with a final heat 5-1 won by the unbeaten Alex Sedillos (15). Despite behind held to a home draw by Wakefield later in the week Stepps—unbeaten in four—are now just a point adrift of safety. In division three Woodhouse Warblers made it two wins out of two on the road when taking a 43-47 victory at Solihull, a final heat 5-1 won by Jake Garcia (14) completing a 12 point turnaround in the scores. Their joy was short-lived though, the Mark Reid (14+1) led Newcastle Rebels 44-46 victors on their trip to Nottinghamshire later in the week.

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