PLYMOUTH Devils completed their League Cup fixtures with a 49-41 defeat at the hands of Southern Group winners Ipswich at the St Boniface Arena on Friday evening.
The Devils were handicapped by the absence of reserve Ashley Morris, who broke down on the way to Plymouth and the team had to go into three races with one rider only.
Co-promoter Ashley Taylor said: “We know that Ipswich always give us a hard match and this one was no exception.
“It was something of a see-saw meeting and heat 11 was pivotal when Danny King and Gino Manzares scored a 5-1 against Ryan Fisher. That gave Ipswich a four-point lead with four heats remaining.”
Fisher top scored for the Devils with 11 points from five rides and Kyle Newman made a strong contribution with eight (paid 12) from five starts.
The Devils skipper was unfortunate in heat 10 when he worked hard to overtake Rohan Tungate, only for his engine to fail on the final lap and he was left to push the bike home for a point.
Plymouth: Kyle Newman 8+4 (5 rides), Sam Simota 7 (4), Morten Risager 5 (4), Jack Holder 6+1 (4), Ryan Fisher 11 (5). Reserves: Ashley Morris (did not arrive), Rafal Konopka 4+1 (5).
Ipswich: Danny King 8 (4), Gino Manzares 9+2 (6), Nico Covatti 7+1 (5), rider replacement for Cameron Heeps, Rohan Tungate 15 (6). Reserves: Stefan Nielsen 6+1 (5), Ritchie Hawkins 4+1 (4).