David Norris got his record and Eastbourne Eagles claimed the home win their fans demanded.

But it was teenage sensation Lewis Bridger who grabbed star billing as Eagles beat Poole Pirates 49-41 in the home leg of their Good Friday double-header last night.

Poole took the Elite League bonus point having won by 16 in Dorset earlier in the day.

But that could not tarnish the celebrations for Bridger, who performed wheelies and donuts on the track after completing the match-clinching 5-1 with Dean Barker in heat 14.

The 17-year-old produced some typically thrilling action and was paid for a career-high 17 points in a gruelling seven-race programme.

A relatively modest night by Norris was enough to confirm him as Eastbourne's all-time top point scorer while Nicki Pedersen enjoyed three wins over world champion Jason Crump to compile a high quality five-win maximum.

It was an upbeat Arlington evening in front of 2,000 fans and Pedersen paid tribute to the meeting's top scorer.

He said: "Lewis was tremendous. I keep telling him not to lift on the start and to make sure he's got full gas coming off the turn.

"He's still learning a lot but he listens."

Promoter Bob Brimson rated Barker's heat 14 win one of the rides of the night.

Norris got his record with a second place in his fourth ride but, suffering from a cold, was below his best as the younger guns held sway.

Eagles' super reserves Bridger and Cameron Woodward powered to two more 5-1s, in heats two and four, to give their side a 16-8 lead.

Poole halved their deficit with a re-run maximum from Crump and Edward Kennett after Norris fell in heat five.

The 5-1 came with a touch of controversy.

Kennett also fell in the initial running, seconds after Norris, and looked to be down before the red light came on but ref Dale Entwhistle allowed him a second chance.

Daniel Nermark delighted home fans with an attempt to pass Craig Boyce in heat six.

But he ended up in the airfence and you could not help thinking Eagles had wasted a chance of a heat advantage as the Pirates settled for a 3-3.

Eagles' lead was a precarious four points for long stages but Pedersen came back from a stuttering start to blast past Crump on the back straight and ensure stalemate in heat 13 before steady Barker and exuberant Bridger earned their decisive maximum.

Poole took the honours 52-36 in the morning meeting at Wimborne Road helped by a 15-point full maximum from Bjarne Pedersen.

Nicki Pedersen handed Crump his only defeat and Bridger was paid for ten points but Eagles got just one point from their replacement rides for Davey Watt.

EAGLES: Pedersen 15; Nermark 1; Norris 5+1; Barker 9+1; Woodward 4+2; Bridger 15+2; Watt (R-R).

POOLE: Crump 12; Kennett 6+2; Pedersen 12+1; Watson 2, Boyce 7+1; Giffard 1+1; Batchelor 1.