Reserve pair John Wainwright and Gary Corbett came to Hammers' rescue in a dramatic win - after visitors Newport so nearly exposed the absence of Arena star Troy Pratt.

Tommy Palmer stood in for Hammers in place of Pratt - who was today awaiting more news on his broken collar bone - but amassed only four points.

Instead, Wainwright and Corbett scored 17 between them to prevent Newport repeating last year's win at the Purfleet raceway.

Hammers stormed to maximum points in the first two heats, but Newport's Anders Henriksson promptly reeled off the first of his four race wins.

Arena skipper Colin White was excluded in heat four for touching the tape, but Corbett and Wainwright earned a race draw.

Both teams then claimed 4-2 wins to leave Arena 23-19 up after seven heats, before Matt Read and Wainwright triumphed 5-1 in the following race.

However, the visitors notched two 5-1 triumphs. White somehow won a precarious heat 11, but Newport wins for Henriksson and successful tactical substitute Craig Watson left the contest level at 42-42 for the final heat.

A restart heightened the tension, but White and Leigh Lanham hit the front early to set up Hammers' two-point victory, al-though Watson overtook Lanham.

Arena boss Peter Thorogood agreed it was a "close call" but said: "It was a super meeting with some great entertainment. Obviously we're missing Troy."

Arena scorers: Lanham 9+1, Read 6+1, Palmer 4+1, Lobb 5, White 10, Corbett 5+2, Wainwright 7+3.

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