NEWPORT Wasps yesterday ended their British Premier Trophy South qualifying programme the way they started – with a convincing home success at Queensway Meadow Stadium.

However despite this, their biggest since the 58-35 home victory over Workington Comets in July, 2006, the Wasps fail to make it through to the semi-finals.

They ultimately have failed in this tournament because of a couple of hefty away defeats at Rye House and King’s Lynn – although they went into this particular clash on the back of a solid display in Friday’s 47-43 loss at Somerset.

Guest Justin Sedgemen, guesting for injured teenage Aussie Alex Davies, top scored in that match for the Wasps and he repeated the feat again in this quick-fire return.

This time his paid 15 was from five just five rides to give popular Sedgemen the honour of being the first rider in Wasps colours to post a maximum of any kind for three years.

Sedgmen, however, wasn’t on his own in shining against the Rebels, who included former Wasp Brent Werner and the winner of January’s New Year Classic at the venue, Steve Boxall.

Also with the bit between their teeth were Swede Kim Nilsson, who recorded four heat wins, and Canadian Kyle Legault, who would have scored a few more points had he not lost control going into bend four of race nine That was one of two heats, the other was number 12, in which the Rebels unsuccessfully adopted the tactical-rider option whereby points are doubled as long as the opposition are beaten.

First Nilsson’s countryman Anders Mellgren finished ahead of Cory Gathercole and then Sedgmen roared from third to first in a couple of dare-devil overtakes to thwart Sam Masters and Ritchie Hawkins.

The Wasps always held sway throughout and secured five maximums (5-1) heat wins – including the last-race success for Nilsson and skipper Leigh Lanham over Boxall and Hawkins.

Newport Darlows Wasps 57: (scores from four rides each, unless stated). 1 - Leigh Lanham (c) 9+3(5); 2 - Craig Watson 5(4); 3- Anders Mellgren 7(4); 4 - Kyle Legault 8+1(4); 5 - Kim Nilsson 13(5); 6 – Justin Sedgmen (guest for Alex Davies) 13+2(5); 7 - Todd Kurtz 2(3).

Somerset Rebels 37: 1 - Shane Parker (c) 7(4); 2 - Brent Werner 0(3); 3 - Sam Masters 5(4); 4 - Steve Boxall 9(5); 5 - Cory Gathercole 7(4); 6 - Ritchie Hawkins 9+2(7); 7 - Tommy Allen 0(3).

l The Wasps open their British Premier League campaign against Redcar Bears on Sunday at Hayley Stadium, tapes up at 2.30pm.