Reading Racers 42 Newport Wasps 47

NEWPORT collected their first piece of silverware of the season by winning the Severn Bridge Trophy at Reading. The Wasps triumphed 47-42 for an emphatic aggregate margin of 105-74.

They achieved last night's victory with a six-man team as Ben Howe was ruled out with a knee injury.

Wasps wanted to ride Oxford's Andrew Appleton but Reading promoter Pat Bliss put the block on that, pointing out that as he was in his second season as an Elite League rider he was ineligible.

Instead, Newport were forced to use rider replacement. Wasps reserve Barrie Evans who, along with Carl Wilkinson arrived late at the Berkshire track after being held up in traffic, was also left battered and bruised after a horrendous pile-up in heat 12.

He was sent catapulting through the safety fence on the first bend after clashing with home rider Brendon Mackay.

A dazed Evans was able to walk back to the pits but Aussie Mackay was taken to hospital with a broken arm.

On a slick surface, Newport frequently looked the sharper of the two sides.

That was understandable as this was their fourth meeting of the season while Reading had not ridden since losing heavily at Newport a week last Sunday.

"Newport deserved to win," said Reading's ex-Wasps star Anders Henriksson. "They've made a good start to the season and look a solid side."

Newport trailed their hosts after conceding a 4-2 in the opening race but Scott Smith and Evans pulled the scores level in heat three.

Four heats were shared before Wilkinson and Lee Dicken recorded maximum points in heat eight.

A 4-2 to Reading was followed by another 5-1 from Wasps, courtesy of Frank Smart and Smith. This left Reading six points down and they responded by sending out Phil Morris to partner Henriksson.

The pair fired in a 5-1 against Dicken and Smart, Morris came out again in the next race and was brought down by Smith, who was excluded. Evans and Mackay then had their crash in the re-run of heat 12, leaving Morris to beat replacement Wilkinson in a match-race to bring the score to 36-35 in Newport's favour.

Craig Watson and Smart notched an impressive 5-1 to extend Newport's lead to five.

Reading: Mullett 6 (4), Bunyan 2 + 1 (4), Morris 12 + 1 (6), Clews 3 +2 (4), Henriksson 11 + 1 (5), Mackay 1 + 1 (3), Schramm 7 (4).

Newport: Watson 10 (5), Dicken 4 + 2 (5), Smith 10 + 1 (5), Smart 11 + 2 (6), Evans 4 (4), Wilkinson 8 (4).