For the second successive season Brighton have sneaked through to the last-16 of the KO Cup courtesy of a two point aggregate first round win. As when eliminating Cradley in SL34 it took some last heat magic from Hobart Buus (15) to send them through against Lane End, the Danish world number six passing both Thorsten Moser (12+1) and Bradley Williams (12) in the final race decider to clinch not only his maximum, but a 91-89 success for Nick Ward’s side. Two-times defending champions West Ham—who beat them in the SL28 semi-final on their way to the first of four trophy wins in seven years—await the SL21 winners in the second round, the Dockers received a bye in the opening round alongside last years runners-up, Swanage. The Swans themselves make their SL35 bow in an all-top flight tie, they take on Reading, who completed a home and away double over Milton Keynes this week. There was another close run thing at Newcastle, where again the top flight hosts came out on top by two against lower division opponents. Dover the ones to lose out on this occasion after Espen Askelien (13) and Venedict Glinka (13) broke the deadlock with a last heat 4-2. Newcastle take on Bilston—conquerors of Nottingham—in the last-16, no worries for the Bull Terriers following their emphatic 25 point first leg win, they easing through against the top flight Jazz by 19 on aggregate. Elsewhere Medeswell recovered from a home draw last week to beat Lothian on their travels 43-47 and reach round two, Desford also progressed thanks to an away win, theirs at Calne, 38-52.

Transfer records tumbled as Lane End said goodbye to Bradley Williams (11+1) this week. The 27 year old signed off with a four ride maximum in the Trappers latest win in a run of seven straight in the league for the club, they taking all three points on offer at Wirral with a 42-48 success, the victory secured by Thomas Zach (12) and Williams in heat 14 when they scored the visiting side’s fourth 5-1 of the meeting. Swanage had come calling for Williams—who won the Aussie title at the start of the year—and a £1.5million plus rider deal was arranged prior to the trip to Wirral, the vastly experienced Daniel Mucha the man to replace him as part of the move. Williams had joined Lane End from Cradley for just £45,000 at the start of last season, a campaign he increased his GSA from 6.50 to over nine points in, form which he’s continued with into SL35. Lane End reach the one-third mark of the season top of division two by five points and now with a very healthy bank balance.

World number seven Craig Chapman won three major titles at 41 and now has another success at 42. He extended his own record as the oldest winner of a WSO meeting in the SL35 British Final at Warrington, the Reading number one scoring a maximum 15 to take the title for a record fifth time in his 15th appearance in the final. Scot’ Alexander Holden (13) finished as runner-up, with Chapman’s Whiteknights team mate Philip Hart (11) completed the podium. The top eight from the meeting take on the top eight from this weeks Pacific Final in the next stage of this years World Championship, the Overseas Final. Swanage’s world number 12 Joshua Ward led the qualifiers from the Pacific round, he taking the title for the first time ahead of last years winner, Joseph Fisher (12).

Warrington extended their advantage at the top of division three to six points with their sixth straight league win. The Vikings began the week with a 43-47 victory at Witham.