Rugby are still looking for their first European Cup tie success after they were eliminated in the opening round for a fourth time. The Gravediggers lost home and away to Krakow this season, with their 48-42 loss in Poland this week their seventh straight meeting defeat in the competition. Krakow finished as runners-up to Newport Pagnell last season, they’ll be attempting to reach their fourth final when they take on Bridgwater in the last four in SL29, the Baboons through to that stage for a second time following an eight point first round win over Plock. It was a comfortable victory in the end for Steven Potter’s side, 18 up from the first leg they secured their spot in the semi-finals with three races to spare.

Lee Alty’s World Championship first round win of last week is already a distant memory. Those celebrations turned to despair when he missed the cut in the second round clash at Kassel, a winless seven point total seeing him finish ninth in a meeting won by Whitemoor’s Cestmir Sulak (14). Two of the three Brit’s in action in the second of this weeks ties in Kalmar also made their exit, with only Smethwick world number four Mike Conlon (13) making it through. He did so in style however, the winner of last years European GP topping the standings to claim his fifth career WSO meeting success. Defending world champion Odell Espeseth (9) qualified through to round three from fourth, with fellow SL28 GP riders Filip Sarka (12) and Deniz Rask (8) also progressing from a strong tie which saw the world numbers 11 and 13, Frantisek (7) and Mario Gottardi (2) exit.

Claygate are currently racing in division one for only the third season in their 24 year history. They have finished tenth in both their previous campaigns. Although struggling again, that fate doesn’t look likely in SL29 after they went 11 points clear of Netherton with a 44-46 victory over the bottom of the table Heathens, Kevin Dobinson (10+2) finishing second in heat 10 and 14 5-1’s which helped secure the Riders only their second ever away victory at this level, ending a run of 23 straight top flight defeats on the road. It takes them up to eighth in the table—still six points adrift of safety—however above Sedgemoor, who were held to a home draw by Smethwick. The Rebels—league champions in SL26 and 27—have made big moves in the transfer market in an attempt to halt their decline, they bringing in 19 year old Vitas Kolesnichenko as their new number one from Wilmington. The current World Under 19 Champion cost the Rebels £1million and allows their current headers to shuffle one place down in the order, second string Sacha Markov and reserve Oscar Sandell move to the Wombats as part of the deal.

After last weeks blip Bolsover got back to winning ways with a double success in division two. A victory at Broadwell, 43-47, took the leaders advantage up to five points, with in-form Nottingham moving up into second. The Red Stars are currently on a winning run of seven in the league, with a third straight away success returned for them at bottom side Wordsley, 40-50. In division three a first away win of the season helped Newington end the week top of the standings, second string Josef Plasil (8) picking up two wins in the 41-49 success at Halesowen.