NEWPORT Drillerman Hornets failed to reach the final of Saturday night's National League Four-Team Championship at Stoke Potters' Loomer Road.

Their quartet could only manage a meagre three points of a possible 24 in qualifying Group B, which was won by Belle Vue Colts (15 points) with Stoke Potters (14) second and Buxton Hitmen (10) third.

The Hornets knew they would be minus number-one heat leader Todd Kurtz because he was on duty with Newport Mike Manning Audio Wasps at Leicester Lions.

However they suffered another blow when Matt Bates became unavailable and his place went to Richard Andrews, who was first up in heat two.

But he finished in last place and when skipper Jay Herne also came fourth in race four, the danger signs were already flashing that this was not going to be the Hornets' night.

In heat six, it was the turn of recent signing Steven Jones. However yet again, a Hornets rider trailed home last in a race won by former Wasps and Hornets captain Tony Athkin.

Hornets' other new face Brendan Johnson came out two heats later and when opponent Jamie Pickard fell at the very first bend, it aided the Newport rider to finish third and post his side's first point.

Herne got off the mark in his second outing in which he gained a couple of points after finishing as runner-up, but Jones failed to score for a second time in 11.

Johnson also bombed out in 14, also won by Atkin, as did Andrew in the 16th and final race of the qualifiers.

On Group A, Mildenhall Fen Tigers (22) were top, second were Dudley Heathen (16) with Isle of Wight Islanders (11) and Hackney Hawks (6) third and fourth respectively.

It means the final line-up consisted of Mildenhall, Dudley, Belle Vue and Stoke.

Result: 1st - Dudley 15 points; 2 - Belle Vue 12pt; 3 - Stoke 11pts' 4 - Mildenhall 9pts.

* Newport Drillerman Hornets (all from our rides each) 3: 1 - Jay Herne (c) 2 points; 2 - Steven Jones 0; 3 - Brendan Johnson 1; 4 - Richard Andrews 0.