Hammers' well-documented travel sickness cost them dearly again in the Premier Trophy at Smallmead.

The home side overcame a 14 point first-leg deficit to collect the bonus point in addition to the two match points.

Only Leigh Lanham and Colin White emerged with any credit for the visitors who began the meeting in disastrous fashion when skipper Shaun Tacey's machine caught fire on the starting line.

He was excluded and then in the reserves race, Scott Courtney touched the tapes and was handicapped. Not surprisingly, he trailed in at the back of the field.

Kelvin Tatum was particularly disappointing, recording just two points that saw him pulled out of a scheduled ride.

Things were close early on as Arena trailed by 39-33 after 12 heats. But it was the last three heats that really caught the Hammers napping -- just when they seemed assured of the bonus point.

Reading reeled off three successive maximums to snatch the bonus point in dramatic fashion.

Only Lanham and White managed heat wins for Arena with Lanham reeling off victories in each of his opening three rides before being forced to settle for the minor places as Reading took control.

Reading -- Dave Mullett 13+1 (5 rides), Jason Bunyan 6 (4 rides), Phil Morris 10+1 (5 rides), Paul Clews 7+1 (4 rides), Anders Henriksson 10+1(4 rides), Glen Phillips 7+1 (5 rides), Chris Schramm 1 (3 rides).

Arena Essex -- Kelvin Tatum 2 (3 rides), Shaun Tacey 5+1 (5 rides), Colin White 10+1 (6 rides), Andy Galvin 1 (3 rides), Leigh Lanham 13 (6 rides), Scott Courtney 1+1 (3 rides), Lee Herne 4 (5 rides).

The Hammers look to get back on track this Friday when they seek to avenge their opening Premiership Trophy defeat against Isle of Wight with a win at Purfleet.

Published Tuesday, April 9, 2002