THE Wasps threw off the disappointment of being minus Canadian ace Kyle Legault to finally end a five-match home, British Premier League losing streak.

Following a couple of postponements at Queensway Meadows Stadium, the Wasps were desperate to redeem themselves and included new signings Jason Doyle and Justin Sedgmen in an effort to address their extremely poor start to the 2011 speedway campaign.

The pair made their debuts in the 51-42 away defeat at the hands of champions Edinburgh Monarchs on Friday.

Returning, however, was skipper Leigh Lanham, who was absent at Edinburgh because he was busy qualifying for next month’s British (individual) Championship final by finishing fifth in the second semi-final at Scunthorpe.

Doyle’s presence meant Lanham moving from the number-one berth to number five, and if ever a rider profited from the shackles being removed, it was the popular Wasps captain.

At times you could not have dropped a cigarette paper in between Lanham’s bike and that of an opponent, and quite why anyone would willingly want to sit at home and watch television when this sort of entertainment is available is simply beyond me.

Lanham was magnificent and some of his riding was out of the top drawer and it, of course, was the blueprint for this thoroughly deserved success over a Sheffield side that simply refused to be beaten.

After the Wasps had secured a trio of 5-1 maximum heats wins from the first six races, the visitors trailed 24-12, and when Josh Auty could only come second when seeking double points as a tactical rider the deficit was only reduced by a couple of points.

But over the next half a dozen heats a Sheffield blitz meant they secured parity at 40-all with only two races remaining.

Another defeat after all the ballyhoo of recent team changes would have simply been too much to take and there was now a serious danger of a sixth successive home league reverse.

However, first Robin Aspegren and returning Mark Jones and then that man Lanham and race partner Sedgemen posted 4-2 race wins to ensure Wasps fans were finally given something to cheer – and my, how they did!

The downside was that Jones and fellow reserve Todd Kurtz were comprehensively outscored by counterparts Simon Lambert and Ashley Birks 14-4, while Doyle, who fell in his last outing, only managed paid seven from a quartet of rides.

However, Jones and Kurtz will come again – as will Doyle, whose very presence lifted both home fans and Lanham, while Sedgmen already looks a really brilliant acquisition.

Newport Mike Manning Audio Wasps 48: 1 – Jason Doyle 6+1(4); 2 – Justin Sedgemen 13(6); 3 – Robin Aspegren 9+1(5); 4 – rider replacement for Kyle Legault; 5 – Leigh Lanham (c) 16(6); 6 – Mark Jones 4(5); 7 – Todd Kurtz 0(4).

Sheffield Tigers 44: 1 – Ricky Ashworth (c) 5(4); 2 – Emiliano Sanchez 5(4); 3 – Josh Auty 12(5); 4 – Hugh Skidmore 1+1(3); 5 – Shane Parker 7+1(5); 6 – Simon Lambert 9+1(5); 7 – Ashley Birks 5+2(4).

Newport Wasps (at Edinburgh) 42: Doyle (c) 7(6); Sedgmen 10+2(6); Aspegren 5(4); Legault 14(6); Rider replacement for Lanham; Jones 3+1(4); Kurtz 3+2(4).

The next fixture for Newport Drillerman Hornets is the home National League clash with Mildenhall Fen Tigers on spring bank holiday Monday, May 30 – 2.30pm start.