Newport Wasps v Edinburgh Monarchs

The cup tie at Newport was probably the most important match of our season so far, and we were looking for a big effort.

We pulled in Plymouth's Shane Waldron at no. 6 after hearing that Sean had broken down well short of Newport.

We won the toss and Henrik made a start off the inside. Theo arrived at the first bend adrift but with everyone moving out, he sliced through to take the lead and we were on a 5-1 down the back straight.

The track was slippery and Henrik went in wide? and just slipped off. It didn't initially look serious but Henrik stayed down for treatment and was eventually stretchered into the ambulance and then taken to Hospital.

That was a major downer for everyone, and with no cutback opportunity arising in the rerun, Theo lost a 1-5.

Parsons won heat 2 but we didn't give Billy Legg any gifts, and heat 3 was a good one. Matthew made the start and had a great battle with Atkin, who got round him. Matthew didn't give way though and the pair battled for the rest of the race, before Wasps took a 4-2. William had blown a motor at Wolverhampton and didn't look quick.

Heat 4 should have been shared but Rusty fell foul of the slippery surface on the second lap, conceding another 4-2.

Heats 5 and 6 were both lost 5-1, Theo not managing to get near Atkin and Collins, and Rusty falling again after putting Schramm under a bit of early pressure. There was little sign that we were capable of compensating for the loss of Henrik and Newport had drawn level on aggregate after just 6 heats.

We had the TR weapon still, and Matthew managed a solid second in heat 7 - a 5-3 advantage to put us ahead again!

Theo in heat 8 is usually good for some tactical points, but in this one he was never in the hunt, finishing at the back. So the TR weapon was used and we were now 2 down.

The next two heats were home 5-1's and at this point (18-44) it seemed likely to be one of our worst performances ever.

It was already too late but we did fight back a little in the remaining heats. Gating was so important, and off gate 1 in heat 11 Theo made the start.

Derek took a tumble on the first bend though, and the heat was stopped. Undaunted Theo did it again, indicating how much more effective he is off gate 1, and he recorded the fastest time of the meeting.

Heat 12 was a Monarchs' 5-1! Matthew led all the way, with Derek fighting to hold off Neil Collins. On the last lap Collins flew into second down the back straight squeezing through a tiny gap, but Derek came sharply off the final bend to snatch it back, almost chopping Neil's nose off.

Still 22 down though, and Rusty lost his third 5-1 in heat 13, in which Wilkinson just caught him on the line to finish behind Neath.

We took our third advantage in heat 14 through a William win, though he still didn't look as quick as usual. Atkin was in contention till the last lap when he lost it, allowing Derek to grab another point.

Just one to go, the tie long decided. William made another start off gate 1, and Matthew was well placed too. Going into the third turn bunched up, Wilkinson was just ahead and Schramm was on the inside trying to put pressure on our pair.

Unfortunately he lifted and skewed across the track. It seemed he might go between our riders, but he clipped both and all three came down.

After some anxious moments all three rose and seem to be OK.

All in all though, a desperate result and a very disappointing performance on a track which every other team seems to ride better than us.