EUROPEAN ROUNDUP

Image courtesy of Steve Hone Photography

Falubaz were already in control of the decider after winning the away leg 50-40, and they wrapped up a 58-32 triumph in the decider for an overall aggregate margin of 36 points.

Rasmus Jensen led the way with 14 points with Rohan Tungate adding 12+1, whilst Brady Kurtz provided the main resistance for Rybnik with 13, although the injuries suffered by Patrick Hansen and Jan Kvech in recent weeks meant they were always likely to find the Final a step too far.

The seven-time Champions Zielona Gora therefore rejoin the PGE Ekstraliga and have already stated their intentions to be significantly stronger than recently promoted clubs Ostrow and Krosno who were both relegated back to Division One after just one season in at the top level.

Meanwhile Rzeszow sealed promotion to Division One with a 57-32 win over Gniezno to give them overall victory by 39 points.

Rafal Karczmarz scored 13+1 with Marcin Nowak adding 12 and Jacob Thorssell 11, whilst Tim Sorensen top-scored for the visitors on 9 – but they were effectively out of contention when Sam Masters crashed out of the meeting in Heat 6, suffering leg and knee injuries.

Rzeszow plan to retain the majority of their 2023 squad as they step up next year, and that line-up will be enhanced by the headline addition of Nicki Pedersen as he makes a return for a third spell with the club.

Pedersen rode for Rzeszow in the top league in 2006-07, the second of those seasons seeing them finish fourth, but they were relegated when he returned in 2013.

However, having departed Grudziadz at the end of the current campaign, he is expected to still be a high scorer at Division One level, with eight clubs now confirmed for that league.

There had been doubts over Poznan but their floodlight issues have now been resolved, whilst Ostrow may start as early favourites with a spearhead of Tobiasz Musielak, Chris Holder, Frederik Jakobsen and Gleb Chugunov.