Eastbourne Eagles failed to break their long run of away defeats today as they crashed 55-41 at Lakeside.

The Sussex side fell behind in the opening race and only managed to keep the score respectable by scoring heavily in two double-points tactical rides.

In the first, Cameron Woodward win netted six points and in heat 11 Bjarne Pedersen and Mikkel Michelsen combined to give the Eagles an 8-1 heat win.

In between they suffered a number of heavy reverses against the Essex side, who are the early leader of this year’s Elite League.

Eastbourne, who last won away from their home track in June 2012, never looked like breaking their long-running duck away from Arlington.

It was a disappointing performance all round by Eagles who saw their second heat-leader and former Lakeside rider Joonas Kylmakorpi net only two points.

The two teams meet again tonight (7.45pm), this time at Arlington.

Lakeside: Peter Karlsson 13+1(5), Mikkel Bech 11+1(4), Davey Watt 8(5), Ben Morley 7+2(4), Richard Lawson 7+1(4), Lewis Bridger 5+2(4), Adam Ellis 4(4).

Eagles: Bjarne Pedersen 11(5), Cameron Woodward 10(5), Mikkel Michelsen 7+1(4), Timo Lahti 6(3), Danny Halsey 4+1(5), Joonas Kylmakorpi 2+1(4), Ben Hopwood (Guest for Lewis Blackbird) 1+1(3).