In the end they went down 58-34 but in tricky conditions the sides whole-hearted efforts were appreciated by the home crowd and they most definitely could leave with their heads held high.
Four of the Saints riders had never seen the track be
fore whilst three, Mike Pickering, Ricky Scarboro and Stuart Parnaby, have only just returned to league racing after significant breaks.
Leading from the front was Byron Bekker who managed four second places amongst his eleven point total but all the side managed to record at least one 'paid second place'.
Gary Irving recorded the side's one heat win in the second race but Mike Pickering struggled with the extremely bumpy track conditions. He went from first to last in that race but did come back later and finish heat 12 in second place.
Scarboro and Parnaby enjoyed themselves and their experience showed as they rode well to pick up points in most races. However, Scott Richardson had a tough night as he hit the deck on several occasions. He lost second places in heats 7 and 14 whilst 'first bend bunching' saw him hit the deck in heats 10 and 12.
After the meeting Malcolm Vasey said "Against a very good home side our patch-work quilt of a side fought the track, attacked the situation and came out with a great deal of honour and pride. It was a really gutsy performance and I could not have asked anymore of any of them in terms of effort.
"We could have easily been swamped but with Byron (Bekker) leading by example everybody followed and it was a brilliant showing. When it comes to Sunday (away v Rye House) I think we have more confidence now as a result of one or two riders taking a match when they haven't ridden for a while.
"Stuart Parnaby hasn't ridden an official speedway match since 1993 but he is really fired up for Sunday and I'm sure he'll find thing the situation easier than this. He's done very well today and Ricky Scarboro has done well too. We can be really please with him and everybody, from one to eight, have done the best they can.
"They were very difficult conditions with misty rain the whole match. Not one person has made a complaint about the conditions or the track. They just got on with it and done the best they could. I'm proud of them."
The Saints are next in action on tomorrow afternoon, Sunday, 28th June, when they visit the Rye House Cobras in another league clash. The meeting follows the Rye House v Sheffield Premier League meeting which starts at 2pm.
Plymouth 58 – Seemond Stephens 9+3 (4 rides), Kyle Hughes 11+1 (5), Nicki Glanz 15 (5), Jaimie Pickard 1 (4), Mark Simmonds 12 (4), Jamie White-Williams 5+1 (4), Paul Starke 6+1 (4)
Scunthorpe 34 – Byron Bekker 11(6 rides, including a four point tactical ride), Stuart Parnaby 4+1 (4), Scott Richardson 5+1 (5), Ricky Scarboro 6+1 (6), Gary Irving 5 (4), Mike Pickering 2 (4), Danny Stoneman 1+1 (1)
1. Hughes, Stephens, Bekker, Parnaby, 51.53 5-1
2. Irving, Starke, White-Williams, Pickering, 56.87 3-3 8-4
3. Glanz, Bekker, Richardson, Pickard (fell), awarded – no time 3-3 11-7
4. Simmonds, Starke, Scarboro, Pickering (fell remounted, fell)
Awarded – no time 5-1 16-8
5. Glanz, Bekker, Parnaby, Pickard, 52.10 3-3 19-11
6. Hughes, Stephens, Scarboro, Irving, 54.09 5-1 24-12
7. (re-run), Simmonds, Scarboro, White-Williams,
Richardson (fell, excluded), 53.85 4-2 28-14
8. Hughes, Parnaby, Starke, Pickering, 53.72 4-2 32-16
9. Glanz, Irving, Scarboro, Pickard, 54.10 3-3 35-19
10. (re-run) Stephens, Richardson, Stoneman,
Hughes (excluded, unfair riding), 56.69 3-3 38-22
11. Simmonds, Bekker (tactical ride), Parnaby, White-Williams, 54.41 3-5 41.27
12. Glanz, Richardson, Starke, Irving, 53.56 4-2 45-29
13. Simmonds, Bekker, Stephens, Scarboro, 53.85 4-2 49-31
14. White-Williams, Pickering, Pickard, Richardson (fell), 57.56 4-2 53-33
15. Glanz, Hughes, Scarboro, Bekker (fell, remounted), 54.59 5-1 58-34
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