The only major club trophy Leeds have yet to win is in sight again after they came through a closer than expected tie with Malmo to reach the final of the European Cup. Darren Evan’s side held a 22 point first leg advantage from the first leg of the semi-final, but their trip to Malmo proved to be trickier than expected, with a run of four 5-1’s in the space of five heats from the hosts taking them to within four of levelling the aggregate scores. With just two races left in the tie—which was a repeat of last years final—and World Champion Viktor Pohek to come in the last, it was imperative Leeds finished off the holders in the penultimate race, step up 31 year old Steve Wales (9+1) who became the fourth tactical substitute used by Evans in the meeting, the former WU21 Champion rolling back the years to sprint to his second victory of the meeting and help earn the Jaguars a decisive 5-1 alongside his heat leader, Daniel Lake (5+2). It’s the third time Leeds have reached the final of the competition, losing the previous three to European League opposition, including to Malmo just last year. Plock beat the Jaguars in the SL14 decider, and it’s the Poles again they’ll meet in the battle for the silverware 17 years on from that loss. Plock ended Coalville’s bid for a first final appearance in 22 years with a 49-41 victory in Poland this week, world number five Piotr Slusarski (15) again in brilliant form for the hosts, but it would be Marcel Vokoun’s (5+1) second place finish in heat 14 which would end the resistance of the British two-times winners of the competition.

Only a third heat leader at Stowmarket but Christopher Hall (11) tops the World Championship standings after round one of the SL31 GP series. A strong Grand Prix debut for the two-time winner of the New Zealand Championship, with the 26 year old banging in a run of consistent rides in the ‘European’ round in front of an impressive near 23,000 crowd at Linlithgow. Four second place finishes and a heat eight victory over GP regulars Mark Jolly (8) and Stig Martinson (8) earning him 11 points overall, matching the total of fellow rookie, Toni Lauri (11). Lauri had claimed one of his three wins in the meeting against Hall when they met in heat ten, but the Finn was unable to provide a repeat in the race-off, where Hall out thought the Normanton man to take the lead coming out of the second bend before easing to the round victory. Third on the podium went to Oliver Schmidt (10), the 24 year old—another debutant—defeating Belal Fabian (4th) and Kalle Lehtonen (5th) in a second race-off.

Eastbourne’s long wait for their first away win of the season came to an end at Dudley. But only just. A 44-45 victory at the Tigers secured with the minor places from Ronnell Hawtin (10+1) and Stig Martinson (12+1) in the final race, a closer than expected finish to the meeting given the Seagulls had led by five heading into heat 14, in which high scoring reserve Joshua Payne (12+2) would take his seventh ride of the meeting. However the 23 year old was beaten on this occasion by home second string Garry Kelly (9) and more surprisingly their 19 year old reserve, Bengt Kleven (3+1). In the end the concession of a second 5-1 to Dudley of the meeting wouldn’t matter, with Eastbourne going on to inflict Dudley’s fifth straight league defeat on them to leave them seven points adrift of safety in eighth. Eastbourne—who are racing in their 29th consecutive top flight season—are up to sixth, eight points clear of the drop zone.

Runcorn returned to the top of the division two table for the first time in two months with a 44-46 victory at Margate. A strong showing on debut from second string loanee’ Vanya Kristoff (7+2) made the difference, the Swindon asset one of five different winners for the visitors, who had secured both league points with a heat to spare. Peers boss Terry Meech will have no complaints about the performance of his recent signing, with £20,000 addition from Dudley, Nate Stokes, scoring 11+1 from his five rides. However Margate have slipped to the foot of the table following the loss. Runcorn lead the way from previous pacesetters Linlithgow by a point, the Lions though did pick up a draw at fourth placed Greenhill after ending the meeting with back-to-back 5-1 scores.

New leaders too this week in division three with Mid Cams returning to the summit. Emma-Louise Kean’s side did so with a 42-48 victory in their top of the table clash at Hale, Jonathan Kirk (13+1) and Dime Rahmberg (11) securing what could prove to be a crucial victory in the third tier title race with a last heat 4-2. Hale boss Garry Robinson will be hoping his side’s chances improve vastly at the change of averages after next weeks fixtures, with Jaroslaw Szyszko—who scored just three in the defeat—set to lose three points from his GSA allowing Massimo Ruopolo back in at reserve where he could form a formidable partnership alongside Szyszko.