A home league defeat to pacesetters Long Eaton has left Totton without a win in eight in all competitions. The Tigers conceded a last heat 5-1 to Adam Lucas (12) and Marek Wieczorek (11+2) in going down to their first loss at the Testwood of this top flight campaign, 41-49. The victory maintains Long Eaton’s three point advantage over Belfast at the head of the standings, Jan Tomanek (15) and Stephan Beck (10+2) having earlier scored two 5-1’s in the final three heats for the Sinks as they took both points at Chesterfield, 42-48. A draw for Totton at Caversham in the first leg of their KO Cup third round tie has given them high hopes of progression to the semi-finals in the competition, the Tigers—looking to reach the last four for the first time since they lifted the trophy in SL9—boosted by a brace of wins in the clash for their two second strings, Bradley Turnbull (9+1) and Izak Zaloudek (7+1).

Bournville was the venue for the surprise result of the opening third round meetings of this years KO Cup. Last years semi-finalists—who are making their debut in division two this year—continuing their strong form in the competition into SL16 by adding to tie victories over Stourbridge and Stoke with a 52-38 mauling of the record four-times winners Belfast. Alex May (14) led the way for Steve Donaldson’s side with four wins in the success, while there were notable performances from Libor Kovac (8+1) at second string and reserve, Charlie Hamilton (7+4).

Hallamshire’s Marci Jaworski (12) became the youngest ever winner of a Grand Prix after topping the podium in the opening round of the SL16 series at Long Eaton. 12 points for the 19 year old Pole, who finished a point clear of Harry Nicholls (2nd) and Stephan Beck (3rd), who fought out a race-off for the minor podium positions. Jaworski—who finished down in seventh in last years WU21 final—beats Simon Snow’s record by eight weeks with the European GP victory, at 19 Snow won the British round in SL7, his first of two victories in the series to date. Snow scored just four at Long Eaton this week.

Mansfield’s (40 points) six meeting winning league run came to an end at fellow promotion chasing side Bournville (32). The scores were close for much of the meeting before the Badgers ran away with things late on to win 50-40, heat 13 and 14 5-1’s securing the points for the hosts. Mansfield got back to winning ways with a ten point home victory over Buxton, a result which sees them end the week seven points clear at the top of division two. Second placed Sedgley (33) cut their deficit to the leaders by a point thanks to a draw at Stourbridge, another disappointing home return for the Scorpions—who were defeated at Penhall Way by Bournville last week—despite tracking two riders in Harry Nicholls (14) and Deryugine Mikhail (11+1) who have averaged over ten this season. 5-1’s won by tactical substitute Beck Sundling in heat eight and Oliver Stuart in heat 14 crucial for the Sprites as they rode to their second draw at the venue this season. A couple of big home meetings next week for Sedgley, they taking on Buxton in the second leg of the KO Cup quarter final needing to recover a 12 point deficit to progress, before hosting Bournville in the league.