Reverse psychology or just a realistic view? Chalvington have suggested that the rest of the division are just fighting to finish second behind defending champions Whitemoor in SL30, as having dominated pre-season the Witches began the new campaign proper with back-to-back wins to sit top of the league standings. Chalvington themselves are unbeaten after two having fought back from six down to draw their opening away fixture at Bridgwater, a last heat 5-1 from Per Dalberg (15 from six) and Jason Danoff (15+1) earning them a strong result against a side that began the new season with a victory at Smethwick. The Baboons led from start to finish of the London Road clash in recording their first ever league win at the venue, new £200,000 signing at second string Connor Scott (7+2) amongst the heat winners for the visitors in the four point success. At 40-50 Whitemoor’s away victory at Cambridge was a more convincing one on paper at least, but it certainly wasn’t plain sailing for the Witches, who were six down on their hosts with four races to go. But boy did they make the most of those last four races, running away with the meeting by racking up four straight 5-1’s, three of which involved world champion Bernd Hoover (15+2), who won the first as a tactical substitute. Cambridge bounced back from the loss—their second at home in double figures against the Witches in three seasons—by beating Bolsover 44-46 on their travels, this time 5-1’s in their favour in heats 12 and 13 turning the meeting their way. The Bears themselves had earlier beating Nottingham on the road by the same two point margin, in a meeting in which reserve Chad Daughenbaugh top scored with 12.

Shock at Longbridge in the Club Pairs as Chalvington exited the competition in the first round for a third successive season. Their selected pairing of Jason Danoff and Per Dalberg had the highest combined GSA of any of this years 30 starters, but a 5-1 reversal to Netherton’s Cestmir Sulak (16) and Joshua Russell (11) sealed their spot on the sidelines. The Heathens were excellent all night, in fact such was their dominance they had already clinched top spot in the tie prior to the Chiefs match-up, having scored earlier 5-1’s against the partnerships from both the eventual joint runners-up—Nottingham (21) and Longbridge (21)—plus Stowmarket. Chalvington were not alone from the top flight to make their exit this week, with Cambridge, Bolsover and Smethwick eliminated from their ties, won respectively by Wilmington (24), Didsbury Village (25) and Glasshoughton (22).

Whitemoor split their league wins with another in the Division One Cup. Trevor Walker’s Witches making a great start to the defence of the trophy they won for the first time last season, beating Nottingham 44-46 of the road to pick up three out of a possible four group points. Radim Urban (10+1) was a double race winner for the visitors in the victory, however the 17 year old—signed from Great Barr for £600,000 in pre-season—will not feature in any of his new side’s remaining first round qualifiers, as an injury picked up in Whitemoor’s later home win over Smethwick has ruled him out of action for six weeks.

Glasshoughton have made their best start to a season in 14 years after winning back-to-back in the league and earning a draw in their Division Two Cup tie at Broadwell. The Gazelles fought back from 12 down to take a vital away group point in their Division Two Cup opener, they are bidding to maintain their 100% record of reaching the semi-finals in that competition, the twice winners having done so on six out of six occasions to date. Earlier a last heat 5-1 from Michael Langhome (14) and Adam Schofield had given them both points in their division two clash at Claygate, 43-47, Matt Bernard’s side have now lost just once on their five league visits to Glebelands. Glasshoughton ended the week with a 50-40 home win over Longbridge and top the second tier standings by a point from Plymouth, who sit second after earning a draw at Newington. A disappointing result in the end for the Pilgrims, who had led by four prior to a last heat 5-1 reversal.

Dartford failed to win away from home in the whole of their debut season in SL29. It took them just a meeting into the new season to break their maiden, David Blair’s side winning their SL30 opener at Stowmarket, 43-47. Two wins from second string Robert Malberg (8) on his Warblers debut certainly helped their cause, four from four for number one Ousman Grimstad (14) in his scheduled races helped it even more. Grimstad’s second in the last confirmed the Warblers would be making a little bit of club history.

Christopher Dudley got the defence of his BU21 title underway with a second place finish to Whitemoor’s Ben Charles (13) in his qualifier at Wimbledon. Chalvington’s Martyn Weaver (14) won the second of the semi-finals at Broadwell.