NEWPORT Wasps have been so near yet so far from winning a competition in the last fortnight that they are determined to make amends on Sunday when they tackle Arena Essex in their Knockout Cup first leg clash at Hayley Stadium.

Skipper Craig Watson (pictured) and lead rider Frank Smart were second to the Isle of Wight 13 days ago in the Premier League Pairs and then, last Sunday, the club finished third in the Premier League Fours at Coventry.

They were in the groove during the early group sections of the fours but Watson admitted they fell apart a bit when the 12-race final section arrived.

That is why they are determined to make up for it at Hayley Stadium (2.30pm) and take a good lead away to Eastern England for the second leg.

Watson, who was getting experience of the top flight in British Speedway yesterday evening by riding as a guest for Poole Pirates in their Elite League meeting with Ipswich Witches, said of last Sunday: "The way that it worked, Newport had a lot of gate fours in that meeting.

"Gate four at Coventry was really bad and I had to speak to the referee about it. "We were really unlucky in the second section. The first section went really well but it seemed to fall apart after that."

It did not help that Scott Smith was handicapped 15m on the first heat re-run of the final stage and ended the race last. Nor did it help that Watson himself was excluded from the next heat after falling off his bike and being blamed for stopping the race. Later on, Lee Dicken was excluded after being accused of causing a bad start in which he received a nasty crack to his head on the first bend, though he recovered well enough to continue.

Watson added: "A lot of riders there were ex-Coventry and knew the track but there are no excuses from us. We simply didn't cut the mustard."

The Premier League is the obvious target for the season but the Knockout Cup is a chance for the Wasps to take on one team at a time and slowly but surely land some silverware.

"I think we have a fairly good chance in this now," added the Australian. "Arena are just hitting a bit of form as well but Emil (Lindqvist) looked like he was getting back into the swing of things last Saturday (against Edinburgh). "We didn't learn a great deal about Arena at the Fours last week but we already know their strengths and weaknesses.

"I think it would be better for us to have the second leg at home because we know just what we have to do then, but I believe we can win at home and then go well there in the second leg.

"We are running well in this competition and I would like to think we can go to Arena and win, which will avenge our league loss there."

If the Wasps fans support the side as they did last Sunday, there is every chance the buzzing army will help the team to victory.

Watson said the travelling throngs from South Wales help lift the boys when they are on the road.

The skipper added: "I want to thank the fans for going all the way to Coventry and cheering us on. There were a lot of supporters from Newport which was good to have, especially on an away track."

Wasps are letting children under 15 in free to Sunday's meeting with Arena Essex at Hayley Stadium. The initiative is in partnership with Hayley Bearings.