Arena Essex beat second-placed Wolverhampton 48-42 in a hard-fought Elite League clash at the Purfleet Raceway last night.

The home side trailed by two points at the halfway stage but responded well in the second-half of the meeting after they gained successive heat advantages from heats nine and 10 to take a four-point lead.

But the Wolves narrowed the difference to just two points when Mikael Max beat Mark Loram for the second time on the night.

And with David Howe comfortably taking third from Hammers new signing Roman Povazhny, the Hammers' hopes of victory in a lacklustre meeting looked vulnerable at 40-38 with two heats remaining.

But Leigh Lanham trapped quickly in heat 14 closely followed by Arena's guest Gary Havelock to collect a match-winning 5-1 before Max made it a hat-trick of wins in his personal battle with Loram in a shared final heat.

Loram did manage a couple of successes in his six rides while debutant Povazhny looked a useful recruit and should prove a shrewd capture once he adapts to the tricky Hammers circuit.

There was also a first appearance in Arena colours for squad member Ray Morton who gained a win and second place from his four rides.

Published Thursday August 26, 2004

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