Devils put on an eggcellent show
The Plymouth Skillsgroup Devils began their home campaign with a thrilling 46-43 victory over local rivals Somerset Cases Rebels, writes Mike Baxendale.
Devils team manager Lee Trigger admitted to being a little nervous before the meeting following the previous night's defeat at The Oaktree Arena. He explained "We are a new team with a lot of talent but we haven't had the meetings to gain match fitness. I was a little concerned before the meeting and hoped we would hit the ground running."
Heat 1 only compounded Trigger's concerns as Ryan Fisher crashed out on bend 2 lap 3 to give the Rebels a 2-4 advantage.
There were further problems in heat 2 when Sam Chapman was excluded for falling, meaning Ashley Morris had to face the Rebels reserve pairing alone. A brilliant pass under Paul Starke on bend 2 lap 1 secured 3 points for the Devils.
Heat 3 secured another 2-4 for the Rebels with the impressive Brady Kurtz taking the chequered flag from the gate.
Heat 4 saw Ashley Morris gain his second win of the night by helping secure a 4-2 home advantage for the Devils bringing them within 2 points of their west country neighbours.
Heat 5 produced a key 5-1 for the Skillsgroup Devils with Sam Simota winning from the gate. Kyle Newman and Josh Grajczonek provided the entertainment by exchanging places for 2 laps. It looked like Newman had missed his opportunity for a point when Grajczonek passed around the outside to relegate Newman to last. This only inspired Newman to pass both Grajczonek and Wright on the final lap to give his team maximum points.
Fisher won the next with Holder third to give Plymouth a 4-2 heat win, but this was curtailed by Somerset in Heat 7 by helping themselves to a 5-1 with Kurtz first over the line.
With scores at 21-21 it was anybody's guess on who would be the eventual winner. However heat 8 provided a clue to where the points were going when Wright was excluded for going down bend 2 lap1. After a delay for the air fence to be repaired the heat resumed with Paul Starke blowing an engine on the start line, this left the Devils pairing of Holder and Morris to collect a 5-0 heat win.
Heat 10 produced the move of the night with Devils pair Holder and Fisher going either side of Brady Kurtz lap1 bend 2 to secure a 3-3.
Grajczonek won heat 11 to reduce the arrears to 3 points with the points being shared in heat 12.
Plymouth extended their lead in heat 13 with a 4-2 advantage when Ryan Fisher executed a brave pass to go inside Grajczonek on lap1 bend 3.
Leigh Lanham won heat 14 to give the rebels a 2-4 win to set up a heat 15 finale.
With just 3 points dividing the teams Plymouth had to make sure they got something form the heat to secure the win. For Somerset nothing other than a 1-5 would see them the victors. Celebrations began when Ryan Fisher emerged from the gates in the lead and then carried on to claim the Devils first victory of the season.
The victory came as a boost to Lee Trigger who sees his team extend their impressive home record from last season. " We were excellent tonight, we showed fantastic character to bounce back from Friday's defeat, it was a real team performance."
Kyle Newman The Devils captain echoed triggers comments, paying testament to the young riders. "Ashley and Jack were superb, if they can keep going with performances like that then that will relieve the pressure on the more experienced riders within the team." He added. "This team is going places, there is a buzz about the place even after Friday's defeat, the potential is huge."
The Skillsgroup Devils have a hectic schedule ahead of them with trips to Sheffield, Rye House and Peterborough on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday respectively.
The next home meeting at the St Boniface Arena is on Friday 10th April where Peterborough will be the visitors gates open at 5.45pm with tapes going up at 7.15pm.
Plymouth Devils 46
1. Ryan Fisher - F, 3, 1*, 3, 3 = 10+1
2. Jack Holder - 2, 1, 3, 2, 0 = 8
3. Sam Simota - 0, 3, 2, 2 = 7
4. Kyle Newman - 2, 2* , 2 = 6+1
5. Morten Risager - 1, 1, 2, 1 = 5
6. Sam Chapman - Fx, 0, 0 = 0
7. Ashley Morris - 3, 3, 2*, 1*, 1*, 0 = 10+3
Somerset Rebels 43
1. Josh Grajczonek - 1, 1, 3, 2, 1* = 8+1
2. Charles Wright - 3, 0, Fx, 1 = 4
3. Brady Kurtz - 3, 3, 0, R = 6
4. Leigh Lanham - 1, 2*, 3, 3, 2 = 11+1
5. Richie Worrall - 2, 2, 3, 0 = 7
6. Paul Starke - 2, 0, R, 3, 1 = 6
7. Benji Compton - 1*, 0, 0 = 1+1
SCB Referee - Graham Flint
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