Glanz and Simmonds lift pairs title for Devils

DEVILS duo Nicki Glanz and Mark Simmonds gave the city outfit a timely lift ahead of Friday’s final home league meeting in winning the National League Pairs title for Plymouth.

Glanz and Simmonds were in irresistible form romping to victory over King’s Lynn in the final at Newport on Saturday.

They were up against another in-form duo in the final, though, as King’s Simon Lambert, who raced with Adam Lowe, had won all four of his group races.

But it was Plymouth who took first and second places and a maximum 7-2 advantage, with Glanz proving too quick for Lambert, and Simmonds also seized a late opportunity to speed past the King’s rider to clinch the double.

They had finished top of their qualifying group with Danish international rider Glanz winning the first three races and Simmonds finishing first in the last race.

In total, they totalled 24 out of a possible 28 points to finish five points ahead of host club, Newport.

Devils’ chairman Mike Bowden said: “Nicki and Mark rode brilliantly and deservedly won the title against very good riders.

“I’m delighted that we’ve won our first silverware of the season and that many Devils fans were there to see Mark and Nicki do it — I expect we’ll be the only Plymouth side to win a national title this year.”

Devils return to full-team action at their St Boniface Arena on Friday (7.30pm), when Bournemouth are the visitors for Plymouth’s final National League meeting of the 2010.

Fourth-placed Bournemouth, who are at home to Dudley in the league on Wednesday, have a five-point advantage over Devils in the league and the race for the top-four play-off positions.

Devils’ chairman Mike Bowden’s outfit have three further National Trophy meetings — against Weymouth on Friday August 20, with Buxton competing at Marsh Mills, one week later.

Newport will be Plymouth’s final home opposition, on September 10, in a re-staging of the (July 30) tie called off due to rain.

GROUP ONE: Plymouth: 24 (Nicki Glanz 14, Mark Simmonds 10). Newport: 19 (Tony Atkin 6, Todd Kurtz 13). Bournemouth: 17 (James Brundle 8, Kyle Howarth 9). Dudley: 16 (Jake Anderson 11, Micky Dyer 5). Isle of Wight: 14 (Nick Simmons 9, Danny Warwick 5).

GROUP TWO: King’s Lynn: 23 (Simon Lambert 16, Adam Lowe 7). Buxton: 21 (Adam Allott 15, Robert Branford 6). Weymouth: 20 (Byron Bekker 8, James Cockle 12). Scunthorpe: 17 (Steve Worrall 10, Ashley Birks 7). Rye House: 9 (Joe Jacobs 6, Shane Hazelden 3).

GRAND FINAL: Plymouth 7 (Glanz 4, Simmonds 3) bt King’s Lynn 2 (Lambert 2, Lowe 0).