PLYMOUTH Devils were left with an 18-point deficit to pull back in their home leg after going down 54-36 to Edinburgh on Friday evening in the first leg of their Premier League Knock-Out Cup first round tie.

Steve Worrall, guesting for Charlie Gjedde, turned in a fine performance against one of his former clubs, including three race wins in his 12-point return. But Edinburgh generally had too much top end strength for the Devils.

Plymouth’s only other race winner was reserve Stefan Nielsen, who joined fellow reserve Ellis Perks with a 5-1 win in heat two. That gave Plymouth an early four-point lead but Edinburgh were back on level terms two heats later and gradually took control.

The Devils were again handicapped by the absence of the unfit Kyle Newman and managed only two points from his four rider replacement rides.

The second and deciding leg takes place at the St Boniface Arena on Saturday evening (7.15pm) when Ben Barker will take over as the guest replacement for Gjedde.

Edinburgh: Sam Masters 11 (4 rides), Erik Riss 8+3 (4), Kevin Wolbert 13+1 (5), Jye Etheridge 1 (4), Ryan Fisher 12+1 (5). Reserves: Max Clegg 7+2 (4), Daniel Bewley 2+1 (4).

Plymouth: Steve Worrall 12 (5), rider replacement for Kyle Newman, Jack Holder 5 (5), Todd Kurtz 6+1 (5), Sam Simota 3+1 (5). Reserves: Stefan Nielsen 8+3 (7), Ellis Perks 2+1 (3).