Late heartbreak for Wasps

Newport Wasps 48 Rye House Rockets 42

THE Silver Ski Rockets had to settle for their second away match point of the Premier League campaign after succumbing to a late Newport drive on Sunday afternoon.

Luke Bowen produced another fantastic display, notably outpacing Wasps No 1 Leigh Lanham in convincing fashion to win the first heat, and going on to deliver nine points in South Wales.

Linus Sundstrom was also in a fiery mood down in Gwent ahead of his European U-19 Final and top scored with paid 12.

Captain Chris Neath was resurgent with three successive race wins at Queensway Meadows following an opening heat duck.

A 4-2 from Sundstrom and Robert Mear put Rye in front after the third race, and they retained an advantage until a 5-1 from Lanham and Chris Kerr edged Newport in front 31-29 at heat 10.

Neath's victory over a hard-chasing Paul Fry quickly brought Rye level after the next, and the Rockets could actually have moved back in front but for a fall by Tommy Allen while leading heat 12.

As it was, the two sides remained locked together heading into the final two races.

The first of those saw Swedish sensation Sundstrom finish between Jordan Frampton and James Holder as the Wasps moved back in front, 43-41.

But worse was to come for Rye in the finale when Neath fell while holding a first lap lead.

The Wasps made the most of his subsequent exclusion, with Lanham and Jordan Frampton heading home Sundstrom in the re-run to ensure a six point home victory.

Looking down the respective score charts, the Rockets will feel that they were perhaps the better balanced side.

New signing Lanham looked immediately comfortable for the Wasps, racing to 13 points.

But it also took major hauls from Jordan Frampton, Paul Fry and James Holder to secure the Welsh team's win, as the three remaining home riders managed just five points between them.