NEWPORT pulled off an impressive away win over Exeter in the Premier Trophy last night to continue their recent run of mixed results.

A solid all-round performance by the Wasps saw them shock the highly fancied Exeter side in a closely contested match at the County Ground.

They just missed out in a last heat decider for the aggregate bonus point.

Team manager Neil Street was delighted at the way his side bounced back from the previous day's home defeat by King's Lynn.

"It was very pleasing to get an away win after losing by one point at home," said Street.

"I can't explain how we have picked up away wins at Workington and Exeter while losing matches at home. "It's a crazy situation, but all the team were on fire against Exeter.

"It shows the ability we have in the side and now we have to keep it going."

There were never more than two points between the sides during the first six heats, which produced wins for Tony Atkin and Kristian Lund with Newport generally picking up the minor placings.

Newport went ahead for the first time in a spectacular heat seven. Mads Korneliussen made the gate ahead of Seemond Stephens and the inspirational Neil Collins then battled through from third place to take the lead in a 5-1 advantage for the Wasps.

Chris Neath, guesting for the injured Craig Watson, beat Toni Svab in heat nine with skipper Atkin holding third spot from former Wasp Pavel Ondrasik to give Newport a 30-24 lead.

Newport's hopes of pulling off an unlikely away win were boosted in heat 12 when Korneliussen and Karlis Ezergailis grabbed a 4-2 from Ondrasik and Ben Barker to open up an eight-point advantage.

Exeter narrowed their deficit to four points in heat 13 with a 5-1 from Stephens and Mark Lemon against former Falcon Michael Coles and Neath.

The Wasps bounced back to clinch victory in heat 14 with maximum points from Collins and Atkin at the expense of Nick Simmons and Svab.

That left the teams level pegging in the battle for the aggregate bonus point, following Exeter's 49-41 win at Queensway in April.

Exeter gained some consolation from their first home defeat of the season, however, when Lemon and Stephens held off the challenge of Collins and Korneliussen in the final heat to secure the bonus.

Exeter: Mark Lemon 13 plus 1 bonus (5 rides), Lee Smethills 0 (3), Ben Barker 0 (3), Toni Svab 7 (4), Seemond Stephens 11+1 (5), Nick Simmons 4+3 (5), Pavel Ondrasik 8 (5). Newport: Michael Coles 7 (4), Kristian Lund 6+1 (4), Mads Korneliussen 6+2 (5), Neil Collins 12 (5), Chris Neath 6+1 (4), Tony Atkin 9+2 (5), Karlis Ezergailis 1 (3).

l The busy Wasps are at Hull tomorrow night in the Premier League while the Mavericks ride at Wimbledon in the Conference League.