Holders Leeds will take on Stowmarket for a place in this years Division One Cup final. The mammoth last-four tie pits the two clubs together, which between them have won the competition in each of the last six seasons, with Leeds alone looking to reach the decider for the seventh time in nine years. They’d already confirmed their spot at the knock-out stage prior to this weeks final round of fixtures, however a home 47-43 victory over Cradley Heath ensured they’d finish the first round as group winners, with the defeated Cobras just doing enough in the qualifier to take the runners-up spot in the section on points difference from Eastbourne. Linlithgow had also been in the hunt, but they’d required both bonus points from their meeting with Wimbledon to give them a shot at overhauling the Cobras, which they’d been on course to do following heat 12 and 13 5-1’s, before falling four meeting points short of their 55 point target in the end, as Werewolves recent signing Claudio Gottardi (17) won the last two. Meanwhile Stowmarket sealed a top two first round finish in the other half of the draw with a 49-41 victory in their ‘winner-took-all’ clash with Brickhill, a last heat 5-1 from Lasse Classen (14) and Oliver Schmidt (12+2) proving decisive in the crunch encounter. Wentworth—who take on Cradley Heath in what will be their maiden Division One Cup semi-final—topped the standings after limiting hosts Coalville to a 46-44 in their final qualifier, the Kings had been looking for a 20 point win or better to take the Trappers place in the last four.

Stowmarket are facing their fifth successive first round defeat and Cradley Heath their third in the European Cup following opening meeting losses in SL32. The Witches went down 42-48 at home to Pila in the first leg of their first round tie, the Poles—who have little pedigree in the competition—benefiting from their superiority at reserve, with Timothy Robinson (9+3) and former Eastbourne rider Claus Leth (9+2) out-scoring their opposite numbers, 18 to 2. Cradley have the same six point deficit to make up in Malmo if they are to progress to the semi-finals, unbeaten SL30 World Champion Viktor Pohek (15) securing victory for the Swedes with a win in a last heat 5-1. Holders Leeds and Dudley are in much stronger positions at the halfway points of their opening round ties, Joshua Cartwright (15) scoring a maximum for the former as they beat Kassel by 12, while Dudley managed a six point win over Oslo on their competition debut.

Three-times defending champions Leeds extended their unbeaten league run to seven to moved into a season high second spot in division one. The Jaguars ending the week just points difference behind new leaders Wentworth following a draw at Wimbledon, where a last heat 5-1 from Daniel Lake (14+2) and Steve Wales (13+2) saw them snatch a last gasp point. Wentworth meanwhile took over at the top after they picked up both the bonus points available to them as previous pacesetters Stowmarket fell short against Brickhill, despite winning the meeting 49-41. That extra point hasn’t improved the Tigers own position much, they now three points adrift of safety in eighth having later been held to a draw at home by Linlithgow who lie seventh, with two heat wins second string Lacklan Smith (10+1) was the star for the visitors in that one. The Lions though had earlier been held to a home draw by Coalville, despite the fact that their new six figure signing Jeppe Friedrichsen failed to beat an opponent in any of his four rides.

Coalville’s Friedrichsen did score in his WU19 semi-final in Prague, however the five point total not enough to see him through to the final from the tie, which was won by Linlithgow’s Mads Dahlby (14). BU19 Champion Connor Begum (6) missed out too on a top eight finish, however there was some British success, with Callum Bell (13) progressing from Prague, while Matthew Dowling (12), Aaron King (10) and Toby Hyde (9) made it through from the second of the semi-finals in Beverley, Bolsover’s Dowling doing so by winning the meeting.

A shock first home defeat of the season has cost Dudley the leadership of division two. The Tigers—who began the week five points clear of new leaders Huntingdon—went down 44-46 to Wolverhampton despite providing 12 of the heat winners in the meeting! The Wolves certainly made their trio count, converting them into a 4-2 and two 5-1’s, reserve Jacob Sinclair (10) winning two of the three. Wolverhampton end the week outside of the relegation zone for the first time this season. Huntingdon meanwhile recovered from eight down to win at Hale, 44-46, Magnar Dudek (13+1) and Miroslav Dorosh (13+1) scoring heat 13 and 15 5-1’s to secure their side’s second away win of the campaign. Elsewhere a mixed week for Derby who lost at home to Coventry before winning at Bradwell.