OPMs say they were surprised but thrilled to pick up a Rugby World team of the month award.

The city side are currently unbeaten in Devon Two, with six victories out of six.

And their winning start to the season was recognised in December’s issue of Rugby World magazine, much to the delight of the club.

“We were really quite surprised,” said OPMs captain Henry Matthews on winning the team of the month award.

“One of our managers nominated us and they must have looked at our record and were straight on to it.

“It was quite nice to have Rugby World ringing up asking for information.

“We are all really, really pleased. It is nice for the whole club. It is not just a playing award, but more for how the club has turned around. That’s down to the committee, management and coaching – it has all just fallen into place.”

The city side, who have suffered back-to-back relegations in the last couple of seasons, are just hoping they can keep their form going in 2017.

However, they know that their award could prove motivation for their league rivals.

“It does put us on a pedestal,” said Matthews. “We have been getting a fair bit of attention. It means we are up there now ready to be got at.”

This weekend OPMs face their toughest test of the season when they travel to fellow unbeaten side Dartmouth.

Dartmouth current sit top of the table, courtesy of two extra bonus point.

“Saturday is our biggest game of the season,” said Matthews. “We have been looking towards this game for a while now, since our first three or four games.

“We are training twice this week and we are really targeting this game.

“We really want to win this game, as we do every game, but we just have to take it as it comes. If we don’t then we’ll have to bounce back and keep going.”

It is a big weekend in Devon Two. As well as leaders Dartmouth hosting second-placed OPMs, third-placed Old Techs travel to fourth-placed Buckfastleigh.