Kent Kings’ first National League meeting ended with a 49-40 defeat and a rider in hospital.

Jack Kingston suffered a broken knuckle in a heat two smash at Central Park on Monday night and was released in the early hours of Tuesday with his finger strapped and his arm in a cast. He was, however, cleared of concussion following a scan.

Kingston crashed on the first bend after clipping the back wheel of King’s Lynn Young Stars’ rider Lewis Rose.

Ben Morley was the pick of the Kent line-up, a haul of 10 points and a bonus point (10+1) his best return for the team.

New Kent signing Benji Compton (10+1) retired from second place with mechanical problems in heat 11, while frustrated captain Steve Boxall blew his engine in heat 13 and finished with eight points.

Morley took only one point from his first two heats but stormed back with three wins in a row and said: “After my first two rides, I thought ‘Oh no, I need to sort something out quick and make some decisions.' We changed a few bits on the bike and it suddenly clicked.

“I had ridden 12 meetings on the engine, which was pretty run down and just got it back from the tuner.”

Kings are next in action at Central Park on Monday with Buxton Hitmen the visitors in a National Trophy tie.