Newport Wasps 58 Reading racers 32

TIM Stone's new-look line-up turned on the style to give the fans a wonderful lift on the opening day of the season.

Wasps ended with a 26-point winning margin but they will now have to wait to clinch the Severn Bridge Trophy with the return in Reading tonight postponed because of a water-logged track.

But the early indications were of a much closer meeting with the first three heats finishing all square.

It was a tribute to the riders from both sides as they mastered the conditions which, by the final heat, had deteriorated to such an extent that if the meeting had started any later it could well have ended in abandonment.

Dave Mullett's winning time in the opening heat was 61.63sec. and Frank Smart's time for the final heat was 66.18 - a true indication of the track conditions.

Smart, married the day prior to the meeting, celebrated with a paid maximum and his riding was just as exciting as his display in the New Year Classic and the crowd loved him.

And there was nothing better than in heat seven when Smart, as if joined to Reading skipper Phil Morris' back wheel, waited patiently for his moment and then struck with incredible precision to whip through the narrowest of gaps which must have surprised the Welshman from Cwmfelinfach.

But there were other heats where the overtaking and riding was just as exciting and if Newport continue with this kind of riding then crowds can only get bigger.

Stone spoke of the determination within the team and there was a fine example in heat three where Scott Smith suffered a 50-metre handicap in a rerun after touching the tape.

But by the first bend he had caught the pack and came through to finish third - and picked up four bonus points in the meeting.

But perhaps the most encouraging aspect of all from Newport was their reserve form - Barrie Evans scoring eight and Carl Wilkinson four.

It was in this department last season that Newport were so disappointing.

Reading had former Wasp Anders Henriksson in their line-up along with Morris who both knew the track better than most of the Wasps line-up. He broke double figures with 11 but received little support once the home side gained a stranglehold grip on the meeting with five maximums in the last eight heats.

Reading gained only one maximum when Morris and Paul Clews led Craig Watson and Lee Dicken home.

Newport: Craig Watson 9, Lee Dicken 5 + 1, Ben Howe 13+1, Scott Smith 6+4, Frank Smart 13+2, Barrie Evans 8, Carl Wilkinson 4+2.

Reading: Dave Mullett 6, Jason Bunyan 3, Phil Morris 11, Paul Clews 2, Anders Henriksson 6, Brendan Mackay 4+1, Chris Schramm 0.

* In the picture: Wasps skipper Craig watson leads at Hayley Stadium yesterday.