TIM Stone has vowed to stand by his young guns after seeing Newport Mavericks lose speedway's first-ever Welsh derby.

Carmarthen Dragons won the Bank Holiday Conference League clash 46-43 with vastly experienced duo Dean Felton and Craig Taylor playing a major role.

Newport's cause wasn't helped by the fact that Rob Finlow was involved in a horrifying crash.

Stone said: "I admit I am disappointed to lose our first Conference League meeting, particularly against our new neighbours, but I am standing by the kids.

"We had one experienced rider in our side and that was Scott Pegler who was magnificent but the rest of the lads are all up and coming.

"I was particularly impressed by Danny Warwick at reserve, he's got a bright future there is no doubt about that."

Finlow wrote off his helmet after heading for the safety fence at high speed.

He immediately withdrew from the Mavericks squad to go to King's Lynn in mid-week.

"Rob clipped the back wheel of Jamie Holmes and the helmet took the full force of the accident, his safety gear saved him from a very serious injury and that has to be good."

Meanwhile, Newport Wasps expect to be without Ben Howe for another three weeks with the stitches expected out of his knee wound in 10 days.

Mavericks: S Pegler 20 (7), D Warwick 11+1 (6), C Mason 4+1 (5), J Holmes 4+1 (7), R Finlow 2 (2), S Walker 1+1 (3), C Wilkinson rider-replacement.

Dragons: D Felton 8 +2 (4), D Gough 7 +2 (4), S Colvin 10 (5), G Meakins 1 (4), C Taylor 12 (5), T Brewer 0 (4), D Pugh 8 +2 (6).

* Pictured: Newport officials rush to help Carmarthen rider Darren Pugh