NEWPORT Wasps are through to the second round of the Premier League Knockout Cup and promoter Tim Stone is backing his boys to win it.

There's certainly no lack of confidence from the management after Wasps' win over Monarchs at the second attempt.

The two teams finished level on aggregate at the first attempt, resultin g in a replay but Wasps made sure there were no slips second time around.

Wasps now take on Arena Essex on Sunday with the second leg on August 3.

Stone said: "It was quite tense to start with but in the end we won comfortably. We are capable of winning this trophy."

But it didn't begin well for Wasps, skipper Craig Watson penalised for touching the tapes in the first heat. Instead of taking the 15 metres handicap, Stone brought in reserve Carl Wilkinson for the first of his six rides.

Chris Neath, the former Wasps rider, was fined £50 for delaying the start. It all smacked of gamesmanship which probably affected Watson and were those who felt that Neath should have been further penalised.

However, Watson's revenge was worth the wait with Monarchs still nurturing hopes of a place in the next round.

Watson teamed up with fellow Aussie Frank Smart for h eat 13 and they shut-out four-heat winner Neath for a maximum win in the fastest time of the night, 59.56sec. but still outside Ben Howe's record of 58.45.

Watson won the final heat to finish with a 12-point maximum from four rides.

There was also controversy in heat eight when tape trouble resulted in a rerun - the decision of referee Jim McGregor not meeting with universal approval with Lee Dicken and Wilkinson holding the first two places. But it mattered little as they held-off tactical substitute Neath and David Meldrum, Wilkinson working so hard to keep Neath at bay, preventing him from gaining a third successive heat win.

Neath was a replacement for Frede Schott, ruled out with an eye injury. Initially Neath was to have guested for the injured Dalle Anderson for whom Monarchs used rider replacement and the pairings of manager Alan Bridgett forced Wasps to work hard for the win.

Swede Emil Lindquist, back on his own machine after flying back home, rode consistenly, gaining four second places as Monarchs won eight heats, including the first three.

Wilkinson rode well for his eight points - and six bonus - and his determination was highlighted in heat 12 when he came from the back to gain an important point, and the crowd loved it.

* The next meeting at Hayley Stadium is on Friday when Mavericks take on Boston in a Conference League clash (7 pm).

Scorers:

Newport Wasps: Craig Watson 12 (4), Lee Dicken 9+2 (4), Emil Lindquist 8 (4), Scott Smith 5+3 (4), Frank Smart 10+1 (4), Barrie Evans 2 (4), Carl Wilkinson 8+6 (6).

Edinburgh Monarchs: Chris Neath 14 (6), David Meldrum 1 (5), Peter Carr 13 (6), Theo Pijper 3+1 (6), Rory Schlein 5+1 (4), Aidan Collins 0 (3).

* In the picture: Wasps' Emil Lindquist.