Rugby end the week just a point above the top flight relegation zone after they were held to a home draw by Wordsley, and it could have been worse for the Gravediggers, a last heat 4-2 taking them to a share of the spoils after the Wizards had taken the lead for a third time in the meeting with a heat 14 5-1. The clash between hosts Smethwick and Colney Hatch also ended all square, the Meerkats—who started the week outside of the drop zone—slipping to the foot of the standings as a result, the Crusaders meanwhile climb out of the bottom three after picking up their fourth away point of the campaign, gained after they scored 5-1’s in heats 11, 12 and 15, Ivan Misencik winning two of the late maximums and taking second place behind Teddy Thylander (13+1) in the third.

Neither Netherton or Newport Pagnell took the size of home wins they required to deny Bridgwater second spot in Group B in the Division One Cup first round, meaning Steven Potter’s side were rewarded with a place in the semi finals of the competition at the first attempt. The Baboons lost their final qualifying meeting at Newport Pagnell, 49-41, a ten point win for the home side would have seen them progress, Netherton—who beat group winners Oxford, 47-43, required an 11 point win to progress. Glasshoughton lost at Plymouth in Group A but had already done enough to qualify for the last four, where they’ll face Bridgwater, while Birmingham go through to face Oxford despite losing their final qualifier at Durham, 54-36, the Saints falling just short of gaining a second bonus point that would have taken them through instead.

March sealed a place in the Division Three Cup semi finals after topping their qualification group with a 39-51 win at Kesgrave, the Manics scoring four 5-1’s and a 4-2 in the final five races to complete a remarkable 18 point turnaround in the meeting scores. Hans Berg (13+1) and Daniele Mosca (15+2)—the latter in the race as a tactical substitute—began the comeback with a heat 11 maximum, the same pair added further 5-1’s in heats 13 and 15. SL17 and 19 winners Pagham await March in the last four, the second tie will see Reading take on Maldon.

This weeks World Championship meetings feature eight of the worlds top 12, and only one—Lee Alty, who finished ninth in last years GP series—failed to make it through to round three. World Number three Bryan Baah (14) won the second round qualifier in Colney Hatch, the Sedgemoor number one pipping World Champion Kristof Muller (13) by a point in racing to his 22nd career WSO event victory. It was career win number seven for Netherton world number five Sandro Jelic (14), who took top spot in the Lublin qualifier.

Sandro Jelic (13) was also in fine form as Netherton began the second of the of their division two campaign with a 43-47 win at Cambridge, the victory—in which Lee Wheeldon chipped in with 8+4 at reserve—ending a run of six without a league win for the Heathens. In division three there was a first away win of the campaign for bottom side Loughton, 43-47 victors at Kesgrave, a third for Pagham, who beat Hull by the same score, and a fifth for second placed Ashton, whose 42-48 win at Reading has taken them to within three points of leaders Maldon.