IVYBRIDGE captain Jay Geraty could make his return from a serious knee injury on Saturday when the South Hams side host Dings Crusaders at Cross-in-Hand (2.30pm).
Hooker Geraty has not played since dislocating his knee against Hornets at the start of the December.
However, he has made an impressive recovery and has been told he can return to action.
“He was very lucky,” said player-coach Lewis Paterson. “Despite the severity of the injury, there was not too much damage to the knee.”
Paterson admits it will be good to have Geraty available again.
“He is a massive player for us,” he said.
Ivybridge are just hoping they can get Saturday’s game on after a number of postponements.
They have only played one home match – against Newton Abbot – since mid-December.
“Fingers crossed it will be fine,” said Paterson.
Ninth-placed Ivybridge have only played 15 league matches so far this season, with some of their rivals already having played 18.
But Paterson says they are not worrying about the backlog.
“We are determined to look at it positively,” he said. “It gives people time to rest and recover from injuries and also when the games are replayed it will be drier weather.”
Dings narrowly beat Ivybridge 14-11 away on November 7. The Bristol-based outfit currently sit one place and two points below the Bridgers but have played three more matches.
“It was quite a tight game all the way through up there,” said Paterson. “That match was played just when we had that change of weather.
“They (Dings) are a good side – all are in this league – and we know it will be a tough battle, but it’s one we will be up for.”
He added: “We are pretty much safe, but we want to prove we can compete. We lost to them up there so we want to prove a point at home.”
As well as hopefully having Geraty back, Ivybridge should also be boosted by the return of Matt Grieveson and Mike Cox.
However, they will be without backs Tom Scoles and Ben Watts, which means young Damian Ackerman is set to start.
WESTERN COUNTIES WEST
Relegation-threatened Saltash face a must-win game in Western Counties West on Saturday.
They entertain fellow strugglers Sidmouth at Moorlands Lane knowing a defeat would make it really difficult for them to escape the drop.
Sidmouth sit in 12th spot, six points ahead of second-from-bottom Saltash. The Ashes are without a league win since October and have lost their last 11 games.
Sidmouth won the corresponding match in East Devon back in November 44-23.
Saltash will also be hoping neighbours Devonport Services can do them a favour this weekend.
Eighth-placed Services host 11th-placed Crediton at the Rectory (2.15pm).
Crediton sit just ahead of the relegation zone seven points ahead of Saltash, who were promoted with them from the Cornwall/Devon League.
Services will be looking to bounce back from last week’s 29-0 home defeat to promotion-chasing Kingsbridge in a replayed match.
However, prior to last Saturday, Services had won three games in a row.
When the sides made in east Devon at the start of November, Crediton claimed a 34-14 victory.
CORNWALL/DEVON
IN-form Plymouth Argaum face a tough test away at leaders Bude in the Cornwall/Devon League on Saturday.
Bude have only lost twice so far this season and Argaum’s director of rugby Dave Sansom felt they were the best outfit his side faced in the first half of the campaign, with the visitors triumphing 36-14 at Bickleigh down.
However, Argaum are unbeaten since November and will be hoping they can cause an upset in north Cornwall.
“Bude are a good side,” said Sansom. “I think they are the best in the league, but hopefully we can give them a game.
“When they played down here they looked a very decent team and on that day things did not go that well for us.
“That game taught us that we had to learn to adjust to the weather.
“Since then, though, we’ve played some really good rugby.
Sansom is just hoping his team get to play a game this weekend after their last two matches at Hayle and Pirates Amateurs were postponed due to the bad weather.
“I think there’s a good chance we might play this week,” said Sansom. “I don’t think Bude have lost too many games on their own ground.
“We certainly want to play. At this point we should be seeing the end of the season approaching but at the moment we don’t seem to be getting any closer.
“The only available weekend we have left now until May is the Easter weekend.”
Like Argaum, fifth-placed Plymstock Albion Oaks will be hoping to play their first game since January 23 on Saturday when they host Honiton at Horsham Fields.
Oaks could move up to fourth if they were to beat 10th-placed Honiton.
Elsewhere in the division, relegation-threatened Tavistock face a vital match away at ninth-placed Bodmin.
Bodmin are seven points in front of second-from-bottom Tavvy, but they have played two more matches.
DEVON ONE
TAMAR Saracens are hoping to put their RFU Junior Vase disappointment behind them when they host unbeaten league leaders Wessex in Devon One on Saturday.
Sarries agonisingly lost 11-6 at Gloucestershire side Widden Old Boys last weekend in the South West Junior Vase final.
Had they won, Saracens could have been dreaming of a trip to Twickenham, but instead their eyes are firmly on trying to get promoted to the Cornwall/Devon League.
They currently sit third, but just four points separate second from fifth in Devon One.
This weekend could be crucial in the battle for the top two spots. Not only do Saracens host leaders Wessex but fourth-placed North Tawton host second-placed Topsham.
“We are looking to bounce back from last weekend,” said Busfield.
“We’ve had a great season so far, but this game will be a great judge of the team’s character.”
He added: “Wessex pipped us up there early in the season, but I think we are a much stronger side now.
“If we could win then it would really send out the right message.
“The cup run brought us a lot of attention, which was great, but we want to finish in the two top and get promotion.”
Saracens are just hoping their Parkway pitch is playable.
“We are definitely keen to play,” said Busfield. “Wessex are top of the table and after last week we feel we’ve got something to prove.”
OPMs are not in action this weekend, but St Columba & Torpoint host sixth-placed South Molton at Defiance Field.
Bottom side St Columba are to lose key flanker Martin Reeds, who is to emigrate to Australia this month.
DEVON TWO
DHSOB are hoping the weather does not spoil their vice-presidents and sponsors day on Saturday.
The Old Boys, who sit bottom of Devon Two after having 25 points deducted for registration errors, are due to play sixth-placed Salcombe at Stonehouse Creek.
They are also due to have a second team match against the Crabs before moving to the clubhouse to watch Six Nations.
However, the Old Boys are sweating on the weather, with Plymouth City Council having the say on whether they can play.
“We are hoping for a good day as it’s our annual VPs reunion and sponsors day,” said DHSOB director of rugby Mike Freeman (pictured).
“We are hoping Salcombe are going to come with two teams.”
DHSOB would have been ahead of Salcombe had they not had those points deducted, which they have appealed against.
However, Salcombe’s only win this term came against the Old Boys at Two Meads on November 7.
“Our goal is to get into positive figures and we are targeting four games we feel we can realistically win and this is one of them,” said Freeman.
“We are also in the Devon Junior Vase and RNEC Cup. Hopefully, we can get to a cup final. Our second team is also in the Ellis Trophy.”
Elsewhere in Devon Two, third-placed Old Techs will be hoping to get their promotion push back on track when they host fourth-placed Torrington.
Both teams sit on 27 points, but Old Techs have played two games more.
Techs suffered a blow last time out when they lost at home to Ilfracombe, who leapfrogged above them into second place.
Both Techs and Torrington will be desperate for a win tomorrow with Ilfracombe hosting winless Plympton Victoria.
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