Ivybridge’s forwards impressed last week in wet conditions

IVYBRIDGE will be looking to make home advantage tell for a second week running in National Three South West.

The South Hams side opened their campaign last Saturday with a hard-earned 9-7 win over Hornets in horrible weather at Cross-in-Hand.

They will be looking to build on that when newly-promoted Salisbury make the trip to Devon (kick-off 2.30pm).

Their visitors also got their season off to a winning start last weekend by beating Bournemouth 21-16 at home.

“They beat Bournemouth, so that’s a good result for them,” said Paterson.

“Salisbury will do well at home as it is so far away for many teams, but they have to travel all the way to us now, so we have to capitalise on that.

“We are heading into the game confident. The weather can’t be like last week.

“The lads are really gunning for this weekend.”

Paterson took a lot of positives out of last week’s result, with his team digging deep to win the game in the final minute of normal time.

“It was a good tight-knit performance,” he said.

“In pre-season we had been playing so many dry games, but it was actually massively positive to see what Jamie (Tripcony) has done in terms of the forwards, even though we had not had that much wet weather to practice in.

“The whole team showed really good character.

“That’s the type of game we would have lost by a point last season.

“We have got that monkey off our back now – that first win – and the boys are relaxed.

“It was great to get that win. It was job done in wet conditions, we’ve got the four points now let’s move on to Salisbury.

“Everyone just wants to build on last week’s performance.”

Ivybridge are set to stick with basically the same squad. The only change is likely to be on the bench where young back Lewis Barnaby, one of the club’s successful colts from last season, is set to be included for the unavailable Mitch Pinkus.