It was a crunch week for two of the sports big guns, Framlingham Lancers and Don Valley Vipers facing each other THREE times in three different competitions in the space of just five days, each fixture crucial to their respective chances of claiming silverware this season. First up was the KOC semi final encounter in Sheffield, both sides were using guests for their injured number ones, but it was the visitors to the DVSA that get the most out of their temporary talisman. Daniel Jansson (18)—usually seen in a Bognor race-jacket—raced to six wins from six races, providing the imputes that saw Framlingham wipe off an eight point deficit after heat ten to win the meeting by two! The Lancers ended the night with four heat advantages from five, races which saw Jansson earn success as a tactical substitute in a heat 12 5-1 with the otherwise disappointing Lee Baker (3+2), before combining with Jacek Pluta (11+1) for maximum points a heat later. Jansson returned to win heat 15, a 4-2 there with Pluta ensuring Framlingham would have a lead going into their home second leg. In stark contrast to Jansson’s contribution Jiri Besta (7) managed just one race win, Matthew Madigan will though be back for the return and as the later clash in the Division One Cup showed, this tie isn’t over with yet. For in that competition Framlingham—last years winners—were unexpectedly denied a semi final place when Dan Valley earned a 41-49 win at Ramsey Park, just two days after losing at home against the same opposition! This time Besta (15) was on fine form, he benefiting from the wider expanses the Framlingham circuit has to offer, he and Leon Creer (13) providing the backbone to the success, the pair racing to a total of nine wins. The Lancers were suffering something of a KO Cup hangover, they failing to get in contention after going behind to a Creer/Tony Islam 5-1 in heat three, further visiting 5-1’s were added in heats five and 13, the latter from Matthew Rutherford and Besta sweet revenge for their mauling in that key race earlier in the week. The Vipers were assured of all three points with Creer’s fourth win of the night in heat 14, the win lifting them up into second spot in Group A of the first round standings, earning them a semi final place against runaway Group B winners Southampton Scorpions. The Framlingham riders could have been forgiven for being somewhat dazed by the result, but they had an early opportunity to bounce straight back from the defeat with a repeat of the match-up in the league, this time they were on the ball, no mistakes as Pluta (14+1) and Jansson (14+1) went through the card unbeaten, giving the league leaders a 50-40 win. That, and an earlier 42-48 victory at Sankey, sees the Lancers extend their advantage at the top of the table to three points, second placed Manchester having lost at Merseyside, 47-43.