Ruthless Devils blow sorry Barracudas out of the water
PLYMOUTH Devils chief Mike Bowden saluted his side after they blew away King's Lynn in their National League encounter at the St Boniface Arena.
Plymouth dominated the meeting throughout, supplying 10 of the 15 heat winners, including the first seven as they blitzed their way to a 32-12 lead.
King's Lynn did manage to gain an advantage in four heats – two when they used a tactical ride and another when both Devils riders were excluded.
But it was never going to be enough against a Plymouth team who saw all their riders score points, Kyle Hughes top scoring with 12 points (plus one bonus) on Friday night.
David Gough only rode in one heat because of a back problem, but he still scored more or as many points as three of King's Lynn's riders after finishing second behind team-mate Mark Simmonds in the opening race.
Meanwhile, 15-year-old debutant Josh Dingle demonstrated a maturity beyond his years to score six points (plus four bonus) from five rides.
"It was a very comprehensive win by the team," said a delighted Bowden, who saw his side move up from sixth to fifth in the standings as a result.
"Everybody contributed – it was an absolutely superb team performance.
"I was very impressed by Josh Dingle at reserve, while the rest of the boys all pulled their weight.
"It was a good victory and I am very confident that by the end of the month, we will be up towards the top of the league."
Bowden added of Dingle: "Josh did very well for a 15-year-old making his debut – the boy has got a tremendous future in front of him.
"Whenever Josh is available to ride, he will be in the team."
The Devils began the meeting in the best possible way, recording five consecutive 5-1 maximums.
Hughes claimed two heat wins during that run, including producing the fastest time of the night in heat three in 51.34 seconds, while Simmonds, Matt Bates and skipper Seemond Stephens all took the chequered flag once.
That meant with a third of the meeting gone, Plymouth held a 25-5 advantage and it was virtually a case of match over.
Simmonds claimed his second heat win of the night in race six from King's Lynn's Darren Mallett and with Bates third, the hosts' 4-2 victory extended their advantage to 29-7.
Heat seven saw Stephens follow Simmonds' lead as he won his second race of the match.
But with Adam Allott, who was on a tactical ride, second and Scott Campos third, King's Lynn earned themselves a 5-3 success.
Adam Lowe was the victor for the visitors in heat eight, but Bates and Dingle finished second and third respectively to ensure a 3-3 tie.
King's Lynn reduced the deficit to 38-21 after heat nine when Darren Mallett, on a tactical ride, took the honours from Plymouth pair Paul Starke and Hughes for a 6-3 win.
But the Devils responded with a 4-2 victory in heat 10 thanks to a first from Simmonds and a third from Bates with Allott sandwiched between the home duo.
Wins for Stephens and Hughes in heats 11 and 12, aided by second places from Dingle and Bates, handed Plymouth two 5-1 maximums and extended their lead to 52-25.
King's Lynn narrowed the gap by five points in heat 13 when both Devils riders, Stephens and Simmonds, were excluded.
Stephens fell on the first bend of lap one, causing the race to be stopped, but it appeared he was nudged into the fence by Mallett.
In the re-run, Simmonds was correctly excluded for clipping guest Byron Bekker's front wheel as he tried to overtake.
That left Mallett and Bekker, first and second, free to coast to a 5-0 race win with no opponent in sight.
Allott won the 14th and penultimate heat for King's Lynn, but Starke and Dingle, second and third respectively, ensured a 3-3 tie for the Devils.
Allott repeated his feat in the 15th and final heat as he beat Plymouth's Hughes into second and team-mate Mallett into third, with Starke fourth.
The visitors claimed the heat win, 4-2, but it was the Devils who took a maximum three league points in convincing fashion.
Plymouth Devils: Mark Simmonds 9 points (4 rides), David Gough 2+1 (1), Kyle Hughes 12+1 (5), Paul Starke 8+2 (5), Seemond Stephens 9 (4), Josh Dingle 6+4 (5), Matt Bates 11+2 (6).
King's Lynn Barracudas: Byron Bekker 2+1 (4), Chris Widman 3 (4), Scott Campos 2+1 (4), Adam Allott 13 (5), Darren Mallett 12 (5), Rhys Naylor 0 (2), Adam Lowe 5 (6).
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