Wasps' determination

FOR the second week running, Newport came from behind to secure another Premier Trophy win and keep this season's unbeaten home record.

After Wasps just managed to beat Trelawny Tigers last weekend 46-44 with the race going down to the wire, this was another afternoon of tense action as Newport dug deep to keep their 100% record at Hayley Stadium.

They now have four wins from four home matches, five wins from six overall, but they got off to a poor start after captain Craig Watson was forced to retire early in heat one. Luckily there was plenty of fighting spirit on offer from the rest of the team.

Like a good guest, Chris Neath repaid his hosts' faith with an impressive return taking seven points from four rides, while Frank Smart, Lee Dicken, Carl Wilkinson and Scott Smith all worked hard as Wasps secured the lead for the first time in heat 12 before making sure of success.

But the win came at a price and young Australian Scott Smith took one heck of a pasting after taking a heavy fall in the final race. It remains to be seen whether he is fit for tonight's Wasps trip to Exeter.

For the Rebels, Czech rider Mario Jirout (on his first ride at Queensway Meadows), former Wasp Glenn Cunningham and Neil Collins did the damage, especially Jirout who took 15 points from six rides, but despite four-tied heats between rounds five and eight, Wasps managed to get their noses in front and stay there.

After Jirout and David Meldrum combined for a five-one win in the first heat, it did not look like it was going to be Newport's day.

Young British Lion Carl Wilkinson is showing why promoter Tim Stone has so much faith in him with a valuable win in heats two, his other victory came in heat 12, and his scoring from the lower ranks is giving Wasps the strength in depth they lacked last season.

A key partnership for Wasps was Smith and Neath.

They might not be the tallest of riders, but the pair have plenty of talent and aggression. First they combined in heat three for a 4-2 win, then they took second and third for a 3-3 draw with Mario Jirout.

But their big moment was in heat nine when Neath took first with Smith in second for a priceless 5-1 to draw the match 27-27 and get Wasps on level terms.

In fact they nearly clashed on the final bend in their own private battle, but Neath was back in heat 12 to play second fiddle to Wilkinson as they brought home another 5-1 win and open the four point gap which proved decisive.

Smart and Watson managed a 4-2 win after winning their own private clashes with Jirout and Collins respectively as they extended the gap to six points in heat 13, but they managed to suppress Somerset's mini rebellion in heat fourteen to wrap up the win.

Aussie Smith had done enough to be given the chance to ride in the all-important heat 15, but only a Newport disaster could have let the Rebels draw the match if they had taken a 5-1 win.

It wasn't to be as Smart was awarded the race after Smith crashed out, despite the efforts of Jirout and Cunningham.

There are two big tests now for Newport who face Exeter Falcons this evening, before taking on the Rebels again in Somerset on Friday night.

Former Exeter rider Seemond Stephens rides guests for the Wasps, in the absence of Ben Howe, as Newport look to clip the Falcons wings, while Chris Neath has been confirmed as the guest rider on Friday night.

Wasps need something from one of those tough ties to help their chances of reaching the Premier Trophy quarter-final and if Watson can sort out his engine problems it would give Newport the edge they need.

Wasps: 1-C Watson 4 +1 (4), 2- L Dicken 7 +1 (4), 3-C Neath 7 +2 (4), 4-S Smith 9 +1 (4), 5-Frank Smart 12 (5), 6-B Evans 0 (3), 7-C Wilkinson 8 (5).

Rebels: 1-M Jirout 15 (6), 2-D Meldrum 4 +3 (4), 3-G Cunningham 10 +1 (6), 4-S Bishop 1 +1 (3), 5-N Collins 7 (4), 6-G Phelps 1 +1 (4), 7-M Holloway 5 (3).

*In the picture: Craig Watson, centre, and Lee Dicken, left, jockey with Somerset's Mario Jirout yesterday