Brilliant British champion Robert Lambert was at his sizzling best for King's Lynn - but he couldn't stop them slipping to a 58-32 defeat at Poole.

Brilliant British champion Robert Lambert was at his sizzling best for King's Lynn - but he couldn't stop them slipping to a 58-32 defeat at Poole.

Norfolk youngster Lambert, who was presented with a bottle of champagne by Pirates bosses before the meeting to celebrate his national title success, continued his purple patch in Dorset, but a depleted Stars side ran out of steam.

Michael Palm Toft was recalled to Denmark late in the day and Aussie ace Ty Proctor failed a fitness test in the morning, which left Dale Allitt's men on the back foot.

On the positive side, classy Danish ace Niels-Kristian Iversen made his return, although he wasn't at his best.

King's Lynn made a nightmare start and were missing the gate too often – they were 10-2 down after the opening two heats.

And when Nicolai Klindt made a fast start for Poole in heat three to outpace Thomas Jorgensen they completed a 4-2 and had a 10-point lead which, even at the early stages, was always going to be tough to overhaul.

But with Lambert sparkling, boss Allitt rolled the dice by bringing him in as a tactical substitute in place of the injured Proctor – and he pulled off a breathtaking ride to partner Jorgensen for a 5-1 which brought Stars back into the meeting at 23-19.

Lewis Kerr came to grief in a nasty spill at the start of Heat 11 and his exclusion ended any lingering hopes of a Stars revival. Poole duly delivered a 5-1 in the rerun.

Lambert was beaten for the first time in heat 13 when Richie Worrall denied him and Iversen with a stunning ride.

Lynn's disappointment was compounded by a Poole 5-1 in the last thanks to Linus Sundstrom and Worrall over Jorgensen and Lambert.

Now Stars are faced with the challenge of bouncing back on Monday when they host Rye House at the Adrian Flux Arena. Lambert will be given as lap of honour as the new British Champion and the club are producing a limited edition Lambert souvenir programme to mark the achievement.

Poole: Linus Sundstrom 11+3, Richie Worrall 10+1, Josh Grajczonek 9, Mateusz Szczepaniak 8+2, Kacper Woryna 8+1, Brady Kurtz 7+1, Nicolai Klindt 5+1.

King's Lynn: Robert Lambert 13+1, Paul Starke 6, Thomas Jorgensen 5+1, Niels-Kristian Iversen 5, Lewis Kerr 3+1, Simon Lambert 0, Ty Proctor R/R.