Wasps 58 Witches 32

Newport win 106-74 on aggregate

DANISH import Charlie Gjedde was the star as Newport Mike Manning Wasps bagged a British Premier League Knockout Cup semi-final spot on Saturday night.

However this highly-convincing scoreline masks the fact the visitors were beset with problems before and during this quarter-final, second leg clash at Queensway Meadows Stadium.

They started without Gjedde’s unavailable countrymen Lasse Bjerre and Frenchman Matt Tressarieu, using Tyson Nelson as a guest, and soon lost Taylor Poole and Jerran Hart to injuries.

However that was of no concern of the Wasps as Gjedde posted a paid maximum (unbeaten by an opponent in five races) as his side set up a two-legged, last-four clash with Workington Comets.

The visitors took the first heat 4-2 and when Poole and Hart came to grief, they were actually leading 10-8 – although they were to never again win a race outright.

However having been the victims of ill-luck themselves so many times since their 1997 re-formation, perhaps it is about time that Newport’s luck changed.

Gjedde has established himself well at the club since his arrival earlier this season and here again he was in inspired form as the Wasps won for the fifth time in their last six fixtures in all competitions.

Skipper Leigh Lanham and number-one heat leaders Jason Doyle were good scorers while there was a welcome form returns for Robin Aspegren and Justin Sedgmen while Mark Jones also shone in parts.

Todd Kurtz was forced to retire when odds-on to win heat two, but that was the only piece of misfortune for the home side – in complete contrast to an Ipswich side, which only had four riders for the final 11 heats.

The Wasps now return to league duties and host Leicester Tigers on Friday night, tapes up at 7.30pm, before travelling to face the same opponents on Saturday evening.

Newport Mike Manning Wasps 58: 1 - Jason Doyle 12+1(5); 2 - Justin Sedgmen 6+2(4); 3 - Robin Aspegren 7(4); 4 - Charlie Gjedde 14+1(5); 5 - Leigh Lanham (capt) 10+1(5); 6 - Mark Jones 5+1(4); 7 - Todd Kurtz 4+2(4).

Ipswich Witches 32: 1 - Kevin Doolan 8(5); 2 - Rider replacement for Lasse Bjerre; 3 - Tyson Nelson (Rye House Rockets, guest for Matt Tressarieu) 7(6); 4 - Morten Risager 5+2(5); 5 - Taylor Poole 3(2); 6 - Jerran Hart 8+1(7); 7 - Chris Mills 1+1(2).

Newport Drillerman Hornets included new signings Brendan Johnson and Steve Jones in their side for Friday’s National League fixture at Scunthorpe, but still lost 54-39.

They return to action at Queensway Meadows Stadium on Sunday, when they host Isle of Wight Islanders, tapes up 2.30pm.

Four of the team, as yet unnamed, will also compete in the National League Four-Team Championships at Stoke on Saturday.

Newport Hornets 39: 1 - Todd Kurtz 7+1(5): 2 - Steve Jones 5+1(4); 3 - Brendan Johnson 2(4); 4 - Matt Bates 6(4); 5 - Jay Herne (capt) 12(5); 6 - Richard Andrews 3+1(4); 7 - James White-Williams 4+1(4).