Kent Kings couldn’t claim the bragging rights as Thurrock Hammers edged the sides’ 10th Tunnel Trophy derby clash on Sunday.

Kings began life in the National Off-road Racing Association last month with a win over Eastbourne Eagles, but were edged 47-43 at Iwade in another last-heat decider.

The visitors established a healthy lead when a heavy fall for Kent’s Jack Kingston in his opening ride saw a 5-1 go the way of the Hammers in heat two, and then a second calamity for Kingston came in heat four, when a fuel-tap fault saw him splutter to a halt.

Ben Clifton’s charges rallied, though, and when the impressive Sam Woods delivered a tapes-to-flag victory in heat eight, anchored home by skipper Rhys Naylor for a first 5-1 for Kings, the gap was down to two.

The following race saw Thurrock’s Eliott Kelly fall heavily, ending his afternoon, and going into heat 12 the scores were level at 33-33.

However 15-year-old Jamie Etherington swung the match Thurrock’s way with successive race wins in heats 12 and 13 - both 5-1s.

A 5-1 back at the Hammers in the penultimate heat courtesy of Woods and Kingston kept hopes alive that a draw could be snatched, but despite Etherington coming to grief in the initial staging of heat 15, Thurrock’s Alfie Bowtell had enough in the tank to take the race win and the trophy.

Clifton said: “The blazing heat meant the track was very slick and our guests got the set-ups right early on. But what won the match for the Hammers was the stellar performance from local 15-year-old Jamie Etherington, who really was impressive to watch.

“From a Kings standpoint, Sam Woods racing to two spectacular wins was very pleasing. Post-meeting it was brilliant to see so many youngsters taking the opportunity to have a track walk, these of course are the future of our sport.”

The Kings are next in action at Iwade on Sunday, June 16 in the Kent/Herts Trophy against the Rye House Rockets. The parade is at 1.45pm and tapes-up is at 2pm.