LAKESIDE beat Rye House 67-44 in their Inter-League challenge raced over an 18 heats formula closely resembling that last used in British speedway back in 1993.

The visitors added Shane Parker from fellow Premier League side Glasgow and Edward Kennett, an Elite League second string with Poole.

And it was the latter who showed the gap in class between the two leagues by topping the Rockets' scoring charts with 15 points, including a winning tactical ride.

Kennett, 20, collected three race wins but Parker was the only other visitor to collect the chequered flag on a night that saw the return of Paul Hurry to the Hammers colours.

The former Hammers captain, together with Henning Bager, was dropped from the Lakeside line-up when the management drafted in Andreas Jonsson.

But Hurry issued a reminder of his ability around the Arena-Essex Raceway with two wins and a paid win, dropping just one point to an opponents in his four rides.

In contrast, neither Lubos Tomicek nor Ricky Kling, the axed duo's replacements, shone, with Kling continuing to struggle and failing to score a point from his four rides.

Joonas Kylmakorpi went through the card reeling off five heat wins, including two in the opening five heats, as Lakeside quickly raced into a 20-10 lead, although Kennett's heat three success when he led Adam Shields throughout gave an early warning of his prowess.

He then flew from the gate to account for Krzysztof Kasprzak in heat seven, before Parker exploited an untidy first turn from Hurry to take the spoils.

Kylmakorpi went head-to-head with Kennett in heat 10 with both riders putting their unbeaten tag on the line. But it was the Hammer who maintained winning ways, slipping away from the pack around the first turns and maintain a 10-point advantage at 35-25.

Although Kasprzak collected a trap to line victory in heat 11, Chris Neath and Leigh Lanham were embroiled in a terrific scrap for the minor placings, with the Rockets rider heading off his opponent to collect the runner-up spot to leave the hosts 12 points ahead.

The joker was played with Kennett ensuring double points by leading from the gate, but the trump card was Adam Roynon, who dived inside the home pairing on the first turns to complete a comfortable Rockets 8-1 to reduce the deficit and a scoreline 40-35.

Shields' sharp exit from the gate in heat 13 proved decisive although Tai Woffinden worked past Kasprzak with a mature display of track craft to record his fourth successive second place that fully enhanced his rating as a future leading prospect in the sport.

Leading 49-38, the always superior Hammers collected four maximums in the final five races - including a first win for new number 8 rider and Chelmsford-based Chris Mills - to give illustrate their overall superiority, although their plucky opponents were always on the pace.

Scorers for Lakeside: Joonas Kylmakorpi 15, Lubos Tomicek 4+2, Krzysztof Kasprzak 9+1, Leigh Lanham 10+2, Adam Shields 13+1, Ricky Kling 0, Paul Hurry 10+1, Chris Mills 6+1.

For Rye House: Chris Neath 6+1, Shane Parker 5, Tai Woffinden 8, Tommy Allen 1+1, Steve Boxall 2+1, Edward Kennett 15, Luke Bowen 4, Adam Roynon 3+2.