King's Lynn 69 Stoke 21LYNN crushed Stoke in a Premier Trophy South mismatch to clinch a semi final spot. Rob Lyon's men coasted into the last four 24 hours after the club's enthralling televised Premier League battle at Somerset.

King's Lynn 69 Stoke 21

LYNN crushed Stoke in a Premier Trophy South mismatch to clinch a semi final spot.

Rob Lyon's men coasted into the last four 24 hours after the club's enthralling televised Premier League battle at Somerset.

Sorry Stoke clearly missed the live Oak Tree Arena action on the evidence of this abject display.

Stars' co-promoter Buster Chapman labelled the Potters 'embarrassing' during the interval. Chapman was spot on - albeit Phil Morris' injury absence left the visitors heavily reliant on their Danish reserves.

Heat leader Lee Complin cashed in on Tomas Topinka's sluggish gate in the opener but it careered rapidly downhill for Stoke after the first four laps. Potters' second string Jason Bunyan belatedly served up some entertainment for the diehards in a thrilling heat 14 tactical clash with Jan Graversen (paid ten).

Lynn's reserve refused to bow around the top bend before hanging on by inches to cap his best outing in Stars' colours. Lyon's lesser lights came to the party with Christian Henry (paid 11) earning a rare nominated heat 15 slot and National League ace Darren Mallett (paid 9) again on the money.

Topinka looked to have suffered a Somerset hangover in the opener after his painful last heat tangle with Rebels' maximum man Steve Johnston the previous evening.

Lynn's skipper shut the throttle off to avert a first bend brush with the boards but Tom P Madsen's engine failure gifted the hosts a shared heat.

Darcy Ward pocketed a routine reserves before re-emerging for a spot of synchronised speedway with stylish South American Emiliano Sanchez.

Henry repelled Complin's tactical raid behind Norfolk Arena specialist Chris Schramm - Madsen again blighted by mechanical gremlins.

Mallett clinched his regular midweek Premier Trophy flag under a beautiful Saddlebow setting sun with pillion passenger Topinka going through the motions.

Sanchez nudged Lynn through 30 after seven heats but Bunyan powered out of turn two to split the home duo.

Ward and Schramm swiftly restored normal service to spark Chapman's interval outburst. Graversen and Sanchez offered Stoke a head start before flying around the outside to claim heat 11.

Henry gated sharply to dip into the imperious Ward's slipstream. Complin kept Sanchez honest in the next as Topinka cruised to the flag. Bunyan and Graversen served up fireworks in the penultimate tour but the young Dane took the spoils to huge cheers. Ward turned the finale into a procession with the gutsy Henry sealing his impressive personal display to foil Complin.

Stars: Topinka 9+2, Henry 8+3, Schramm 12, Sanchez 9+3, Graversen 9+1, Ward 14+1, Mallett 8+1.

Potters: Complin 8, Madsen 1, Phillips 0, Bunyan 7, Kristensen 4, Jakobsen 1.

The annual Ashley Jones Memorial Meeting will take place at the Norfolk Arena on Thursday, May 13, when Lynn will face a Future World Select.