ACES HIGH IN NORFOLK

BELLE Vue moved three points clear at the top of the Sports Insure Premiership with a 49-41 win at King’s Lynn on Thursday.

Recent Stars signing Artem Laguta was in top form with a 16-point haul in his second appearance, but the Aces shone as a team for their fourth win on the road this season, including their Super Heat victory at Leicester.

Dan Bewley racked up 14+2 for the visitors with Jaimon Lidsey adding 10+1 as they covered for absent skipper Brady Kurtz, who aggravated an ankle injury on Monday.

Michael Palm Toft, with 10+1, was the best support for Laguta but the home side’s middle order was unable to contend with the visitors.

Belle Vue manager Mark Lemon said: “This wasn’t just a fantastic team performance, but there were also many impressive individual performances from the boys.

“The Stars pushed us hard early on, but we pushed harder and got dialled in towards the end of the meeting.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been in such strong, consistent form away from home and that is a brilliant achievement for us, but we can’t rest on our laurels. There is still a lot of work to do.”

Stars boss Alex Brady said: “It was a battling performance, and obviously Artem got to grips with the track very well tonight, Tofty backed him up really well, and Jason (Edwards) rode his socks off too.

“We had a bit of bad luck with Fred (Jakobsen) losing a spark plug and then getting a 5-1 against us in the re-run, which just seems to be our luck at the moment.

“We’re just that engine room away from being a good side. There are positives to take but I’d be lying if I said I was happy, because I’m not.”

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Photo credit: DEREK LEADER