JUST when long-suffering fans believed matters are moving forward, Newport Wasps took three steps back with this massive underachievement at a solemn Queensway Meadows Stadium on Saturday night.

Following a horror start to the 2011 British Premier League campaign, team tinkering produced successive home victories over the Tigers of both Sheffield and Glasgow, the latter by 57-37 on June 4.

However 28 days is a long time in speedway with the Wasps suddenly a pale shadow of that team and sadly lacking any sort of decent back up for leading trio Jason Doyle, Leigh Lanham and Charlie Gjedde.

Of the other four home riders, only Todd Kurtz managed to win a race as the visitors found it all too easy with every man jack contributing well to a highly-deserved win.

Especially worthy of being mentioned in despatches was Danish reserve Thomas Jørgensen, who won four of his six races in a manner which suggests he could yet reach the very top of the sport.

The defeat was all the more unbearable because the Wasps actually got off to a solid enough start and led 13-11 after four of the scheduled 15 heats.

They were still very much in contention at 18-18 after six races but that was as good as it got with a disastrous couple of tactical rides for Doyle and Gjedde to follow.

Doyle had won his opening three races in some style so it really was a huge shock to the system when he came last while attempting to double his race points.

Soon Gjedde, who earlier had been unlucky when engine problems cost him vital points, could only finish second in his tactical outing.

Under normal circumstances, a last-heat 5-1 maximum for the home side is greeted with rapturous and prolonged applause.

However given that Scunthorpe had long since wrapped up their victory plus the nature of the poor display by the Wasps, the last-race triumph for Lanham and Doyle was greeted with polite clapping you'd expect at a vicar's tea party.

The Wasps travel to face Plymouth Devils on Friday before entertaining Redcar Bears on Saturday (tapes-up 7pm), by which time their fans will discover if the power of the prayer really does work.

Newport Wasps 43: 1 - Jason Doyle 11+1(5); 2 - Justin Sedgmen 2+1(4); 3 - Robin Aspegren 3(4); 4 - Charlie Gjedde 9(4); 5 - Leigh Lanham (c) 12(5); 6 - Mark Jones 0(4); 7 - Todd Kurtz 6+1(3).

Scunthorpe Scorpions 49: 1 - David Howe (c) 10(5); 2 - Viktor Bergstrom 4+1(4); 3 - Michael Palm Toft 7+3(4); 4 - Ben Wilson 5(4); 5 - Tero Aarnio 6(4); 6 - Thomas Jørgensen 13+1(6); 7 - Steve Worrall 4+3(3).

l National League outfit Newport Drillerman Hornets were also in action on Saturday night when they travelled to Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, to face newcomers Hackney at the home track of British Premier League side Rye House Rockets.

The Hornets fared even worse then the Wasps in crashing to a 59-35 defeat with only skipper Jay Herne on form in posting paid 17.

Newport Hornets 35 : 1 - Jay Herne (c) 16+1; 2 - Tom Young 5; 3 - James White-Williams 2; 4 - Matt Bates 9; 5 - Rider replacement for Todd Kurtz; 6 - David Gough 2; 7 - Richard Andrews 1.

The Hornets are next in action on Sunday when they entertain Belle Vue Colts at Queensway Meadows Stadium in a National League encounter (tapes-up 2.30pm).