PLYMSTOCK Albion Oaks have the chance to move clear at the top of Counties One Western West on Saturday when they host Tiverton in a replayed game at Horsham Fields.
The original match on October 21 had to be abandoned in the 55th minute with Oaks narrowly leading 8-7 due to an injury to the referee.
Both teams have won all their games since then and Oaks, unbeaten at home, are expecting a tough challenge.
“It will be a good test,” said Oaks player-coach Lewis Paterson. “We would say Tiverton will be our strongest opposition so far. They have a good side with a good forward pack and a decent line-out.”
Oaks have only lost once – a one-point loss at Tavistock on October 14 – but since then they have scored 33 points of more in every game and sit top, level on points with second-placed Kingsbridge.
“The last couple of weeks we have been putting it together a little bit,” said Paterson.
Tiverton did do the double over Oaks last season, narrowly beating them 34-32 at Horsham Fields in January and 24-21 at their place last October.
Another team in league action this weekend are Tamar Saracens, who travel to Paignton II in Counties Three Devon South & West.
Sarries were initially worried they would be facing a Paignton II side when their first team were not in action, but the south Devon club’s first team are now also playing this Saturday after their home match with St Ives was postponed last weekend due to a waterlogged pitch.
To fit in two senior league games, the Tamar Saracens fixture will kick-off at 1pm, with the St Ives clash starting at 3pm.
If second-placed Saracens win and pick up a bonus point then they would move to within a point of leaders Dartmouth, but they are expecting a tricky afternoon against a Paignton II side sitting in fifth place.
“I think we have a tough game on our hands just by the way they are playing,” said Sarries head coach Mike Lewis.
“They have had a few great results and they have never lost by much.
“I think we are in for a tough day at the office and we have to make sure we are on the money.
“We are looking forward to it. We have managed to get a team together – we have 20 players going up.
“We are missing a few on top of the usual ones, but we will have a fair side out.”
Among the players missing are Tom Hicklin, Chad Smith, Joey Pook, Lew Harris, Greg Parrott and Josh Perkin.
Lewis knows there is pressure on his side to win this game in hand and close the gap on Dartmouth, who narrowly beat them by one score a couple of weeks ago.
“That win for Dartmouth has just applied that little bit of pressure and doesn’t allow us to slip up,” admitted Lewis.
There are a couple of Ellis Trophy cup clashes this weekend.
At Bickleigh Down, Plymouth Argaum II will host Plympton Victoria, while at Moorlands Lane Saltash II will play Plymstock Albion Oaks II.