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Search forPlymouth have second final in their sights
Friday, August 08, 2008, 07:00
The city outfit already have one hand on the Conference Trophy, having beaten Boston Barracudas 62-28 in the first leg of the final.
They will be favourites to book their safe passage into the Knockout Cup showpiece at Hoddesdon on Sunday, holding a 57-36 advantage.
However, without the injured Tom Brown and the unavailable Kyle Hughes – and the possibility that Nicki Glanz may not ride as he is on Premier League duty with Reading in the evening – it may not be the stroll in the park that Devils had been hoping. Much will rely on Plymouth's Cornish duo Skipper Seemond Stephens and Mark Simmonds, as well as impressive reserve Paul Starke.
The two sides have already tried once to stage the meeting, last month.
But it was rained off after four heats with Plymouth leading 13-11 in the match and 70-47 on aggregate.
"We are missing some important riders, but I still expect us to get through to the final," said Bowden. "Mark Simmonds goes well at Rye House, Seemond is always good value for a few points and Paul Starke is back to his best form.
"We will not go there just trying to defend our lead – we are aiming to win the meeting and reach the final in style.
"It is a shame we are missing the likes of Kyle, Tom and possibly Nicki. But we were missing both Kyle and Nicki in the rained-off match and we were still leading.
"So, we have to be confident that we can get the win on Sunday, as well as make it to the final."
Devils have already beaten Rye House on their own track this season – 47-42 in the Conference League in June.
If Rye House are to prevent a repeat of that result, a lot of responsibility will fall on the shoulders of former Devil Rob Smith and his team-mate Danny Halsey.
Smith, who is at number two for his team on Sunday, scored 10 points in the first semi-final meeting between the two teams at the St Boniface Arena.
Halsey top scored with 13 points in that match and scored another 27 points in the two Conference League matches against the Devils this year.
Rye House Cobras: Rider Replacement, Rob Smith, Danny Halsey, Andrew Aldridge, Terry Day, Gary Cottham, Lee Strudwick.
Plymouth Devils (probable): Mark Simmonds, Jamie White-Williams, Nicki Glanz, Tom Brown (Rider Replacement), Seemond Stephens, Paul Starke, AN Other.
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