DEVONPORT Services have the chance to extend their lead at the top of Regional One South West on Saturday with an unexpected home game.

Services should have been making the long trip to the Forest of Dean for a rearranged match against sixth-placed Lydney.

The fixture had been postponed twice due to a frozen pitch at Regentsholme, but it became clear on Thursday that the contest was in major doubt again due to a waterlogged pitch and so it was decided to switch it.

It means Services will welcome Lydney this weekend and then visit the Forest of Dean for their penultimate fixture on March 23, rather than the other way around.

Devonport are probably not likely to be too disappointed by the late switch, as travelling to Lydney, who are unbeaten at home this season, in such bad weather could have been a major banana skin, especially with a number of key forwards likely to be missing.

Captain Matt Gregory is unavailable this weekend, while Mike Rickard (ankle) and Mark Friend (hamstring) were injured last Saturday.

“That is three big, weighty forwards out of our pack,” admitted head coach Ben Russell.

“But we have James Hocking and Liam Jarvis to come back in after we rested them last week and they have been sensational all year. And Andy Pond, Ty Busfield and Ethan Millard all stepped up really well last week, so we have got options.

“With the weather like it is it would have been nice to have had a bit more weight, but we will have boys who will run around the park and smack and tackle everything and bring that intensity.”

If they win, Services could potentially open up a seven-point gap at the top, if Chew Valley were to slip up at Matson.

But if Devonport were to lose at home for the first time this season and Chew won, then the Somerset club could go above them courtesy of more wins.

“We just need to do a job,” said Russell, who should be able to welcome back full-back Matt Neyle.

With just six games to go, Services are in the driving seat for promotion, but Russell insists his team are not feeling the pressure.

“I don’t think there’s any pressure,” he said. “Like I said before, we have done so well to be where we are – fighting for promotion. A lot of people were not picking us at the start of the year and we have done fantastic.

“Yeah, it would be gutting if we miss out right at the end, but we have already got more points than last year and have already won the same amount of games with six matches to go.

“It has been a season of massive improvement and the lads have done fantastic.”

Services’ game will kick-off as normal at 2.30pm.

Saltash should also have been in league action on Saturday with a rearranged trip to Veor, but the Camborne side have handed the in-form Ashes, who put 100 points on Helson last weekend, an away walkover.  It means Saltash are now just three points behind title-rivals Redruth II, who they host at Moorlands Lane next month.

However, Saltash II do have a fixture on Saturday when they host Bude II in the Duchy Plate competition.

Meanwhile, Old Techs and the Peninsula Medical School will be battling it out to reach the Ellis Trophy semi-finals on Saturday when they meet at Weston Mill (1.30pm).

Whoever wins the contest will play Plympton Victoria in the last four of the Plymouth Combination cup.

Techs do not know what to expect from the Medics on Saturday.

“We don’t really have an idea as they have not played a lot this season,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith.

“All we really know is that they are going to be young and probably throw the ball around a bit. We know they will have a bit of fitness about their team.

“For us we just have to try and build on the Tavistock game and the second half of last week’s match against Plym Vic.

“We played some really good rugby in the second half last week. We had players scoring from the wing, from centre, from fly-half and second-row – and from different moves, which was pleasing.

“This will be another good test and will probably be completely different to the games against Plym Vic and Tavistock.”

Techs are expected to have a similar squad to last week, although speedy back Dan Pullen is back.

Also in the Ellis Trophy, Tavistock III will host Marjon II at Sandy Park. Charlie Brown and Martin Budden could make their returns to rugby for Tavistsock.

On Sunday, Ivybridge’s colts will be aiming to reach the semi-finals of the National Colts’ Cup as they travel to National League side Rams in the last eight of the competition.