Plymouth Devils destroy Rockets 54-41

Plymouth survived a late revival by Rye House to take all three match points with a 54-41 victory in Friday’s Premier League match at the St Boniface Arena, writes Graham Hambly.

The Skills Group Devils had a comfortable 20-point advantage after ten heats, but the Rockets clawed back 11-points in the next four races to leave themselves with the chance of taking a consolation point from the final heat.

Visiting skipper Edward Kennett suffered a first bend fall, however, and Ben Barker and Kyle Newman wrapped up a 5-1 against Steve Boxall to round off a successful evening for the Devils.

Plymouth team manager Lee Trigger admitted to being relieved at securing all three points, adding: "We let the Rockets back in with a sniff of getting something from the final heat.
"Rye House may be towards the bottom of the league, but they have a number of Plymouth track specialists in their team.

"It was pleasing that the final score proved to be a comfortable win and it remains our target to take the maximum three points from all of our remaining home meetings."

Devils skipper Barker dropped only one point in his five rides, when he was beaten by Kennett in heat 13, and he was well supported by Newman, who was unbeaten in four of his five races.