Holders Eastbourne remain in the hunt for a record breaking fourth Division One Cup success after reaching the semi-finals of the competition with a last-gasp first round win over Southampton. A 47-43 home victory over the Saints meant the Hyenas would inch their way through as group runners-up ahead of Auckland on points difference, fourth placed Halesowen also missed out after finishing a point shy of taking the 55 required for what would have been a crucial bonus point in their final meeting against Swinton. A last heat Harry Myers (15)/Benjamin Hess (10+1) 5-1 earned Eastbourne their victory over the sectional winners, a run of three 4-2’s in the space of three races for the visitors had brought the scores back to level pegging going into the final two races, a run which nullified the threat posed by Eastbourne of taking top spot in the standings, they needing to win by ten to achieve that feat. In theory that provides Southampton with the easier of the semi-final ties, the Saints—who have now reached the last four of the competition in nine of the last ten seasons—away from home first when they take on Group B runners-up Timperley, who secured their spot in the knock-out stage with a 47-43 home win over Wimbledon. The Titans secured the two vital points in the ‘winner-took-all’ fixture with a Tobias Schneider (15) winning heat 15 4-2. That result and Birkenhead’s two point defeat at Grangemouth meant that Greenhill qualified through to the last four as group winners in their debut season in the competition, Bailey Fellows side won the Division Two Cup last year.

A first home league defeat in over a year would have cost Eastbourne their two month spell at the top of the table if not for their continued superb away form. Southampton took all three points in the battle of the title chasers, 43-46, the minor places—gifted to Lee Andersen (9) and Sergey Guerk (11+1) when Tom Countess was excluded—in the last, good enough to take them over the line for the meeting success and a 89-90 bonus point aggregate victory. A run of three 4-2’s from heat 11 onwards had taken the Saints in front, Guerk beating Countess to take victory in the first of those in heat 11 and then Trevor Putnam (9)—who won his first three races of the meeting—two heats later. Eastbourne held on to top spot courtesy of what was a third straight away division one victory earlier in the week at Birkenhead, Harry Myers (18) completing his maximum and a 44-46 victory for his side with a last heat win over Lubomir Gerich (11+1). The win was the Hyenas first in the league at the Merseyside Arena. At the other end of the country Southampton were held to a draw at home by second placed Auckland, teenage reserve Owen Lambert impressing with 8+3 for the Rhinos, who were on course for victory until they conceded a last heat 5-1.

SL16 and 20 World Champion Thomas Klemmensen rolled back the years to win his first WSO meeting in four years and qualify for this years GP series. The 38 year old—who has just this week moved the short distance from Nottingham to Sawley—beating Lublin’s Crister Krantz in a race-off to land the Scandinavian title in Malmo for a record fifth time in his career. The top three was completed by last years winner Jari Annala (11), meaning the same trio on the podium in SL28 were back there again this time around.

Four straight wins have taken Bullbridge from the relegation zone in division two and into the top three. Leigh Rose’s Bandits end the week just a point off leaders Rugby following victories over the leaders, 46-44 at home, and earlier at bottom of the table Coleshill. At 35-55 the win at Maxstroke Park was the club’s biggest away from home in the league in their seven years in the sport, Tepi Harju (13+2) scoring his first league maximum since joining the club three years ago in the record breaking success. Sawley also made inroads in the promotion race, with a single point victory at Purton helping them end the week fourth, just points difference adrift of the promotion places. A last heat 4-2 from Tarmo Zelinski (11) and Joakim Naess Lund (10) proved decisive in the nail-biter, the Grenadiers had led by seven prior to the concession of 5-1’s in heats 13 and 14 which saw them trail heading into that last heat decider. Naess Lund has since moved on to Nottingham, in a week which saw 31 riders transferred to another club.

Burrett Road returned to the top of division three with a draw at fellow promotion chasers Wednesfield. A fair result in the end, with no side gaining more than a four point advantage in the meeting in which the lead changed hands several times. Denston’s meeting at Dundee and Broadstairs clash with hosts Birstall also both ended all-square.