Timperley’s bid for a fourth European Cup final appearance in six years is over after they suffered a 61-29 rout in Plock. As a result of their record aggregate defeat in the competition—the 34 point loss is two points greater than the margin which saw them exit to Kassel in their SL29 first round tie—there will be no British representation in this years final, with the Polish victors, who lifted the trophy back in SL17 and 20, going up against Oslo when they bid for their third success in this years decider. Oslo overturned a 60-30 first leg loss to progress into their first final since they won the competition in SL13, Davin Bjorge (15) and Vadim Rimkus (14+1) both scoring maximums in the Norwegians’ dramatic 61-39 second leg victory this week. Already two points down in the tie from the defeat on home shale in leg one, Timperley were soon in the territory of damage limitation, the hopes of a comeback in Poland over with the concession of three 5-1’s to the hosts in the opening five races. Marten Jensen (15) was the winner of two of those, the 33 year old Dane—who has been with Plock for his whole career—would go on to complete his first maximum in this years competition, Attila Hamori (12+2) and Ustin Dombrowsky (10) also scored in double figures in the victory. With their league crown seemingly also slipping away—they are currently ten points off leaders Stone Cross—the Titans best hopes of a trophy this season lie in the 4TT, a competition they were drawn in the semi-finals of against Halesowen,Wednesfield and Southampton this week.

The opening round of the SL32 GP Series got underway in Auckland with two home track riders in action. Current world number four and three-time World Champion Andy Daniel (11) almost gave the Rhinos fans a victory to celebrate, but the England international—who is riding in his seventh successive series—missed out on taking an 11th career GP win after coming second in a three rider race-off for the European round title. Lakeside’s Jasse Vilmunen beat his fellow 35 year old in the deciding race, Olesia Duda trailed home in third. England and Greenhill’s Colin Bradford (10) made an encouraging debut to finish fourth, and could have even topped the standings but for a fall while chasing down Luca Romano (8) for the lead of heat ten.

Owen Briggs’s (3) hopes of adding the WU19 crown to the BU19 title he won earlier in the season are over after a poor showing in the second of the two semi-finals this week. The Dundee junior finished down in 14th in a meeting won by Horsens second string Rudolf Plesnicar with a 15 point maximum, Denston’s Andreas Bender (12) and Slane Kolman (11) of Pori completed the podium. Home nation rider Ryan Holmes (10) did make the cut, and joins fellow Brit’ James Barber—who qualified last week—in this years final.

Ten meetings and ten home wins in the top flight this week, which leaves the standings pretty much as they were. Surprisingly it was struggling Dundee who came the closest to taking an away point, they going down 46-44 at leaders Stone Cross after a last heat home side 4-2, they had led by six earlier in the meeting. The Crusaders remain at the summit courtesy of their superior points difference over Birkenhead.

Greenhill went top of the division two table for the first time since their relegation last season with a 43-47 victory at Liden. All three heat leaders scored maximums for the visitors as they dominated the heat win count, 13 successes to two, but it wasn’t until that 13th from Harry Myers (15) in a last heat 5-1 alongside Luca Romano (13+1) that the Greyhounds took the lead in the clash, which also meant they could at last celebrate their fifth away victory of the campaign. GP rookies Colin Bradford (12) was the third visitor to go through the card unbeaten. Nottingham slipped to second with a 20 point loss at Purton, their biggest defeat of the campaign, while Wednesfield consolidated their position in the promotion places with a draw at Bolsover. Purton followed up their success over the leaders by taking their first away win of the campaign on their visit to fourth placed Grangemouth, a last heat 5-1 from Balder Granholm (13) and Olesia Michalski (11+1) securing the Pirates both league points.

A seventh away win of the campaign has helped Lakeside end the week ten points clear at the top of division three. Their latest success on the road came at Bournemouth, 44-46, who they have now beaten twice at the East Overcliff by that score this season. Third placed Denston meanwhile strengthened their bid for a first promotion after six years at this level with a 44-46 victory at Stepps, where second string Brandeis Rank (7+2) was amongst the heat winners.