KING'S Lynn Young Stars took another step towards the National Development Trophy title with a 53-35 win over Kent on an incident-strewn night at the Adrian Flux Arena.
Max Perry enjoyed a huge confidence boost with a five-ride paid maximum for the Blueprint Construction Young Stars, and skipper Jody Scott also scored the lot from four outings.
Meanwhile Cooper Rushen was unbeaten with the exception of a first ride fall as the home side pulled clear in the second half of the meeting.
With lively reserve Ryan Ingram impressing for the Eagles on a night when their top heat-leaders both hit trouble, the Young Stars only led 25-22 after eight races.
That was mainly courtesy of a 5-1 from Rushen and Perry in Heat 5, by which time the visitors had already lost reserve Jamie Etherington after a crash in his second ride where he suffered a suspected broken wrist.
But two wins for Ingram "" including one over Luke Harrison "" and another for Vinnie Foord kept the Eagles in touch at the halfway stage.
However, the Young Stars then stepped up a gear with Perry and Rushen again combining for maximum points in Heat 9, whilst the lead was extended to nine points as Rushen defeated Foord in Heat 12 with Calum Mitchell third.
The match was decided in unusual circumstances in Heat 13 with Kent's Ben Morley going into the back of his team-mate Freddy Hodder on the third bend, and unfortunately he required a hospital trip for assessment, whilst Hodder also came down in the re-run to hand Scott and Harrison a 5-0.
Perry then wrapped up his paid maximum with wins over Luke Harris in the last two races, with Mitchell supplying third place on both occasions as the Eagles did not field a second rider in Heat 15 after Foord was timed out.
Manager Jason Pipe said: "After getting beaten at Plymouth on Saturday, we had to bounce back tonight and get the win, so it's a good result and it leaves us very well placed for the aggregate point.
"I must say though what happened to Kent was very unfortunate, and we all wish their injured riders a speedy recovery. I've been in that situation before where things like that happen, with losing riders when you're already using rider replacement, so I do know how they feel.
"For us though, that's the best I've seen Max Perry ride the King's Lynn track. I told him afterwards it was a matter of time coming, and it happened tonight, so that was great to see.
"We were led again by 12-point maximum man Jody Scott, Calum (Mitchell) did well at home again, and it was just an unfortunate night for Arran Butcher, he had clutch problems early on and then he couldn't find the set-up.
"Overall we're well on course, and we're looking forward to heading back to Iwade on August 10."
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TROPHY KING'S LYNN 53: Max Perry 14+1, Jody Scott 12, Luke Harrison 9+1, Cooper Rushen 8+1, Callum Mitchell 8, Harrison Rogers 2+1, Arran Butcher 0 KENT 35: Ryan Ingram 11+2, Vinnie Foord 9, Luke Harris 7+2, Freddy Hodder 3, Ben Morley 3, Jamie Etherington 2, Nathan Hargrave r/r
