Newport Wasps 49 Stoke Potters 41

AN inspired performance from reserve rider Carl Wilkinson put Wasps in the driving seat as they rode out comfortable winners against Stoke Potters.

Despite falling in his opening heat, the Boston rider brushed himself off and scored eight points from the Wasps lower order as Newport recovered from an early deficit to secure their Premier League win.

The Hayley Stadium outfit had some luck early on. In heat six, Stoke's Jan Staechmann was about to cross the line for a heat win when he took the final bend too wide and crashed into the barrier allowing Chris Neath and Anders Henrikkson to turn a 3-3 draw into a 5-1 win.

With Wasps 35-31 down going into heat 12, Wilkinson had the Hayley Stadium crowd on their feet as he blistered his way from the back to take second behind fellow Newport guest Leigh Lanham, from Arena Essex, to secure a 5-1 lead.

This was dramatic stuff and Wilkinson's heat performance was worth the entrance fee alone - he deserved the rapturous applause he received and after producing a gutsy performance all afternoon, he is the sort of rider Wasps need next season.

His performance inspired Anders Henrikkson and Steve Masters in the next heat as they secured a 5-1 win with a confident display of team riding.

Wilkinson was back on again for heat 14 in place of Rob Finlow and with some Welsh hwyl in his belly, the Lincolnshire rider led Scott Smith home as their 5-1 score gave Newport an unassailable 46-38 lead.

Wasps even had the luxury of drawing the last heat as they started their bank holiday fixture programme with a solid win.

It is a shame that their two guest riders produced the most impressive performances for Newport, but with their aspirations for this season over it will give Tim Stone and Neil Street something to think about for next year's Wasps line-up.

Swindon today at Hayley Stadium (4pm) will be a tough affair for Newport, although they have an excellent chance to record their first away win at bottom club Trelawny on Tuesday night.