Plymouth maintained their claim for Conference League honours with a comfortable 60-31 victory over Sittingbourne at the St Boniface Arena on Friday evening.

Although the result was never in doubt, bottom club Sittingbourne provided some spirited racing, which ensured an entertaining evening for the spectators.

There were some easy pickings for most the Devils, however, with Mark Simmonds, Tom Brown, skipper Seemond Stephens and reserve Paul Starke all unbeaten by an opponent.

Kyle Hughes dropped his only points when he fell while leading in his final race.

Sittingbourne provided only one race winner all evening when Harland Cook took the honours with Daniel Berwick holding second place from home riders David Gough and Jamie White-Williams.

Plymouth:
Mark Simmonds 12+3 (5 rides), Kyle Hughes 8+1 (4), Tom Brown 12 (4), David Gough 2 (4), Seemond Stephens 12 (4). Res: Jamie White-Williams 2 (4), Paul Starke 12+3 (5).

Sittingbourne:
Dean Felton 11 (6), Alex Cunningham 2+2 (5), Mark Baseby (rider replacement), Harland Cook 9+1 (6), Aaron Baseby 4+1 (5). Res: Marc Andrews 0 (4), Daniel Berwick 5+1 (4).

Plymouth will look to secure their place in the final of the knock-out cup on Sunday (July 27) afternoon when they defend a 57-36 lead in the deciding leg of the semi-final away to Rye House.

The Devils will be without Nicki Glanz and Kyle Hughes, who are on duty with their Premier League clubs.

They operate the rider replacement facility for Glanz and reserve Jaimie Pickard returns in place of David Gough, who is cup-tied having ridden for Rye House in the first leg.

Plymouth: Mark Simmonds, Jamie White-Williams, Nicki Glanz (rider replacement), Tom Brown, Seemond Stephens. Res: Jaimie Pickard, Paul Starke.