NEWPORT Wasps face the Isle of Wight Islanders tonight hoping to end their dismal run of defeats on the road and secure their first Premier League away win of the season.

The Wasps have now been beaten 17 times away this summer and Glenn Cunningham (pictured) said he would dearly love to get the first away win of 2001 - for the fans as much as the team.

Cunningham is back in the side after missing Sunday's 45-all draw with Berwick, as Lawrence Hare guested for the Wasps.

He says with the Newport now unable to qualify for a place in the Premier League play-offs, the side are now riding for personal pride and to repay the fans.

Wasps have already beaten Isle of Wight twice at home, but lost in April's Premier Trophy match away as the Islanders won 54-36.

But recent Wasps away form has been poor, culminating in Friday's emphatic 61-29 defeat at Arena Essex and, as Cunningham put it, Newport were 'annihilated'.

But as Tim Stone continues his hunt for a reserve rider, Cunningham says he wants a win as much for the fans as to break Wasps duck this season.

Fresh back from finishing eighth in the British final of the World Longtrack Championships in Kent on Sunday, Cunningham is desperate for Wasps success.

But even with Anders Henriksson riding for Wasps tonight, preferring to stay in Britain rather than to ride at home in Sweden, things will be tough for Newport.

Cunningham said: "They (the Islanders) are very good at the moment and it won't be easy down there.

"For us it has just been one of those seasons, disappointing for everyone, but we have to try and give the supporters something from this, they haven't had much to cheer about recently."

Problems at reserve have cost Wasps dear as the lower order riders have failed through injury and loss of form to help the side's top order riders. Newport Wasps: 1-A Henrikkson, 2-G Cunningham, 3-S Masters, 4-C Neath, 5-S Smith, 6-R Finlow, 7-TBA. Isle of Wight Islanders: 1-R Morton, 2-A Shields, 3-D Bird, 4-D Watt, 5-S Swain, S Terrsarrieu, 6-G Phillips.