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CUP HALF FULL

Trophy, but league setback for Swans

Swanage have won the Division One Cup for the first time in 23 years after completing an eight point aggregate victory over Brighton in this years final. Even with a four point first leg lead from their visit to the Sharks, the Swans would have been taking nothing for granted as they began the return, the meeting having come on the back of what could prove to be a catastrophic 40-49 Days Park league loss to Dover. More on that top of the table encounter to come, but first the news of the weeks highlight for Oliver Miles’s side. Four wins from Cameron Richards (13) and a couple from Matthew Francis (10) provided a backbone to a 47-43 second leg success, but there were strong performances too from Daniel Mucha (7+1) and Philip Hart (8+2), who scored the first of two home 5-1’s on the night in heat six. The second 5-1 three races later took Swanage eight up on aggregate, and their outright victory never looked in danger from then on, it eventually secured with a race to spare. Earlier it was a far from a nerve-less display against Dover, and definitely not one you’d expect of a side that held an eight point advantage at the top of the division one standings. Not anymore as that’s down to three and with the Silkmen on a run of nine straight top flight wins, the race could now go either way. Hart (3) retired in the first race, reserve David Short fell in the next and the visitors would lead 3-9. It took Swanage seven races just to get back on terms, but when Mucha (7) led them to a heat ten 4-2 you thought the Swans would just about survive this one. But there would be another twist, and a calamitous one at that for the hosts. Heat 13 was the turning point of the meeting and possibly the title race, first Mucha went piling into the back of Pavlov Imants (14) was attempting a clumsy switch from low to high on the third bend of the opening lap. He excluded. In the re-run Richards (10) started well enough, just didn’t last long enough, he retiring from the lead with a huge bang and engine parts flying. 5-0, Dover now led by five. A race later they secured the league points when Ole Johannesen (9) claimed his first victory of the night by inflicting Francis’s (11) first defeat, the Swans fans left shaking their heads once more, this Dover’s seventh win at Days Parks in their last 11 league visits.

 

TODAY: Shorts

Milton Keynes already held the record for the most Division Three Cup wins (4) outright, and now Andy Roughton’s side have moved clear at the top of the Division Two Cup winners list. That after they won the second leg of their final at Bilston, 44-46, a result which secured a two point aggregate win following their disappointing draw on home shale. Despite winning just six of the first 13 races, the Bull Terriers had what looked like a healthy six point advantage heading into the final two races. But they knew it might not be enough considering the firepower the Magic had in their ranks, and their ability to use a tactical substitute in the penultimate race. The hosts fears played out into reality, as Tomas Dolezal (16+1)—who came into heat 14 to take an extra ride—and Dusan Urbanc (12+1) combined to score successive 5-1’s and complete the club’s third win in the competition. The Magic will not get to defend the trophy next season, as they have secured promotion back to division one for the first time since SL19, a tenth straight league win—a 47-43 home victory over Wirral—mathematically securing them a top three spot.

 

Herne Bay recovered from a 14 point first leg loss at Bracklesham to win the Division Three Cup by four. Jaka Dedic (13) and Craig Parrish (12+1) scored Tony Cope’s side’s third 5-1 of the meeting in the final race to secure the trophy.

 

Putney world number three Pavel Vonasek (12) has gone six clear at the top of the GP standings after winning the latest meeting in the series in Kassel. The Czech star won the German round by two from Cameron Richards, who defeated Mark Smith (3rd) and Hobart Buss (4th) in a race off for the minor podium places. Bracklesham teenager Emil Andersson (14) won the second of this weeks big meetings in Pskov, the 18 year old Swede topping the standings in the WU21 semi-final from Petteri Lehtola (13). All three British riders in action—including BU21 Champion William Freeman (7)—missed the cut.

 

Warrington (53 points) need just a point to secure promotion back to division one at the first attempt. A 41-49 win at bottom side Lothian taking them 12 points clear of fourth placed Reading (41) in the division two standings. An earlier home 44-46 defeat to Dudley Wood (40) meant the Vikings wouldn’t be celebrating this week. The battle for third has closed up as Bilston (44) lost at home for the first time this season, a 44-46 defeat to Bolsover (40) leaving the Bull Terriers—who have won just one of their last seven in the league—just three clear of Reading. In division three Tresco inflicted leaders Bicester’s first home loss of the campaign to move into second spot.

 

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