A record equalling 56-34 win over Belfast has sent Houston into their fifth Division One Cup final and the four-times winners scuttling out of the competition. In matching their best ever result in their 74 competitive meetings against the Sinks, George Seymour’s side progressed from the semi-final tie by ten on aggregate, it now the third time in succession that they have denied their fellow Celts over two legs, having inflicted KO Cup defeats on them in two of the previous three seasons. Visiting riders to The Stables managed just four race wins between them in this weeks return leg as the hosts dominated, levelling things up from a 12 point first leg deficit as early as heat five. Two 5-1’s in the opening third of the clash and two more in the next seven, although they had to wait for the maximum provided by second string Adam Carroll (9+1) and reserve Ben Sheppard (9+1) in heat 12 to actually get their noses in front. The top two of Daniel Pesola (14+1) and Maris Zizilev (13+1) scored Houston’s fifth 5-1 of the night in the finale, that though was just to add salt into the mortally inflicted wound on Belfast, their chances having been brought to an end by a 4-2 from Zizilev and Sheppard in the previous race. Having eliminated the most successful side in the competition, Houston’s attentions are now firmly on the silverware, Totton are the team that stand in their way of lifting the trophy. The SL12 winners made their way through to their sixth final by completing a 93-87 aggregate last four win over Chesterfield, Simon Snow top scored with 12 in the Tigers eight point home second leg success this week, Bradley Turner (11) also impressed.

The title race may look done and dusted but the battle against the drop is anything but in division one. Key results in the bottom half of the table saw Totton (26 points) climb out of the bottom three on points difference this week, to be replaced by Stirling (26), who were defeated at home by another club in danger, Long Eaton (29). With now just one defeat in six at Shore Road the Rifles have an excellent record on the Scottish circuit, leading from a heat three 5-1 won by second string Marek Wieczorek (12) the visitors had secured both points by the end of heat 14, a race in which the 29 year old Pole went on to earn his fourth successive win of the meeting. Elsewhere Ringwood’s (24) troubles deepened, eight defeats in the last ten for the club that were in the top half of the standings prior to the start of the run, a fourth home defeat for them with the visit of Houston (30), who gave themselves some breathing space with the 44-46 success.

Bournville—who are also in the semi-finals of the KO Cup—reached their first competition final by completing the double over Caversham in their Division Two Cup last four tie. Leading by eight from the first leg, Steve Donaldson’s Badgers earned a surprise aggregate victory over the divisional leaders with a 43-47 win at the Swans, who had won all their previous fixtures at Kings Meadow in SL15. Bournville face SL5 and 7 winners Bradford in the final, the Speedsters beating Buxton by ten over two legs in their last four tie.

Alfreton are back in the final of the competition they won in SL7 after earning a draw in the second leg of last four tie at Halesowen. Jeppe Hilebrandt’s (13) third win of the meeting in heat 15 sending the Archers through to the Division Three Cup decider by 12 on aggregate. Leigh Rose’s side will take on Stourbridge for the silverware, the Scorpions needed a last heat 5-1 in their home meeting to see off Harringay, 91-89.

Stourbridge’s Harry Nicholls (14) became British Champion for a record third time after topping the final standings in Totton. The 25 year old finished three points clear of Russell Watts.

Just 12th in the British Final but Scot Read (13) could celebrate a first GP victory in his debut series. The 24 year old Bradford heat leader winning the Hungarian round by two points from Jan Tomanek.