Birmingham were made to pay for a bad start as they lost 54-41 at Stoke in the first leg of the M6 Trophy.

The home side won the first four heats on Saturday to open up a 17-7 lead that the Brummies never really threatened.

Stoke's winter signing Jason Bunyan started one race with a 15-metre handicap, only to overhaul Jason Lyons on the third lap.

Lyons was otherwise the star turn for the Brummies with 11 points, Marek Mroz and Tomasz Piszcz got 10 apiece.

Bunyan and former Birmingham rider Phil Morris anchored the Stoke victory with 11 points each, Jesper Kristiansen added nine.

The Brummies next fixture is a Premier Trophy tie at home to Rye House on Wednesday night (1930 GMT).

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