RAMPANT Robert Lambert continued his stunning form to inspire King's Lynn to a thumping 58-32 win over Rye House.
And in doing so he helped boost the Tru Plant Stars' chances of making the top four in a classic 'must win' battle – helped in no small measure by a magnificent 15+3 haul from Michael Palm Toft.
Boss Dale Allitt heaped praise on his side, who were without shoulder injury victim Ty Proctor.
He said: “It was a great way to bounce back from the defeat at Poole, sometimes winning can become easy and I have always said it shows more about the character of the individual and the team with how you respond from a crushing defeat.
“I am over the moon with the victory, though, the boys really pulled together and that was what we needed.
“We built this team specifically so we would have a big engine room and always have a good reserve which we had with Michael Palm Toft scoring 15+3.
“Robert Lambert has been fantastic and he doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone here, contrary to what people believed he is very happy here and we get on really well."
As England's football stars left it late for success in Russia, screened around the Adrian Flux Arena, King's Lynn did everything right from early on.
Newly crowned British Champion Lambert was given a great reception from the loyal fans who turned out in force despite the attraction of football's biggest tournament.
Allitt's men opened up with two handy 4-2 race wins to put the home side on the front foot.
But they stamped their authority with 5-1 maximums in Heats five and six respectively.
Rye House showed promise early on but Thomas Jorgensen and Michael Palm Toft combined for a maximum in a rerun of Heat 5 after former world No.2 Krzyzstof Kasprzak was warned for delaying the start.
And when club legend Niels-Kristian Iversen made a great start to be joined by Lewis Kerr for another 5-1 in the next Stars had taken a grip on proceedings at 24-12.
Palm Toft was involved in some dramatic action in Heat 8 when he managed to pass Aaron Summers after the Rockets man was in second spot and the Stars went 32-16 up.
Lambert team rode his partner home for a maximum in Heat 11 to put the result beyond doubt.
And in the big Heat 13 he did it again with Iversen who just edged out British icon Scott Nicholls for a 5-1 to give Stars a 50-28 advantage with two heats to go.
Skipper Lambert completed his unbeaten haul in the last race ahead of Chris Harris and Stuart Robson to send the Stars fans home happy.
KING’S LYNN 58: Michael Palm Toft 15+3, Robert Lambert 14+1, Thomas Jorgensen 11, Lewis Kerr 10+1, Niels-Kristian Iversen 7+2, Kasper Andersen 1, Taylor Hampshire (no.8) 0, Ty Proctor r/r.
RYE HOUSE 32: Chris Harris 10+1, Scott Nicholls 7+1, Nikolaj B Jakobsen 6+1, Stuart Robson 5+2, Krzysztof Kasprzak 2, Aaron Summers 2, Max Clegg 0.
