The Warriors headed to Plymouth for a meeting originally scheduled to be a National League fixture but changed at short notice to a National Trophy event – the first attempt to stage the Trophy match being rained off in April.
Both teams were under strength with the Devils missing injury victim Bradley Andrews and former Warrior James Cockle who was unavailable on completion of his disciplinary suspension. Local junior rider Saul Bulley was drafted in for Andrews with the Rider Replacement facility in use for Cockle.
Warriors also had Rider Replacement for Scott Campos who had work commitments and junior rider James Chattin covering at reserve.
When racing got under way, Warriors Ben Morley was fast off the line to take heat one, this being the first of four clashes with Devils number one Adam Roynan during the course of the meeting. It ended up two – two in the head to heads, Morley doing particularly well to stay on his bike in heat thirteen when squeezed against the back straight fence.
These battles were the highlight of a meeting run in hot, slick and dusty conditions with little or no opportunity for passing after the first two bends. On the night the Devils were much sharper from the gate and with the wily Richard Andrews lurking at reserve and piling up the points, only Morley, Ben Hopwood and to a lesser extent Danno Verge could compete with the home side.
Warriors will have to do better on Tuesday when the Devils are back on the Island in league action.
Devils: Adam Roynon 16, Ryan Terry-Daley 7+3, Henry Atkins 12+2, Saul Bulley 0, James Cockle R/R, Macauley Leek 5+2, Richard Andrews 14.
Warriors: Ben Morley 13, Danno Verge 5+1, Ben Hopwood 12, Chris Widman 4+1, Scott Campos R/R, James Chattin 1+1, Shaun Tedham 1, Chris Watts 0.