IT IS a massive weekend for Devonport Services as they attempt to move one step closer to the Regional One South West title when they make the short trip across the Tamar to take on Launceston at Polson Bridge.
If Services win, they would only need one victory from their remaining two matches against Lydney and Matson to seal promotion to the National Leagues.
However, a defeat in Cornwall on Saturday would really pile the pressure back on them, especially if second-placed Barnstaple beat relegation-threatened Okehampton.
“We have put ourselves in a great position, but we still need nine points,” said Services head coach Ben Russell.
“This is a massive game. They (Launceston) have beaten the likes of Chew and Barnstaple at home, but in their last outing there they lost to Brixham and they weren’t too happy about that.
“It is a big one and we need to put a performance in.
“They are good at home. They are very physical and have some good players. It is a hard place to go and win, which is what our goal is. We can’t worry about five points or anything, we just have to try and win the game.
“If we put in a performance and do win then the pressure is massively off, but if we lose it then it is massively back on.
“We have Lydney away and Matson away after this weekend and the last thing we want to do is have to try and pick up two wins and potentially two bonus point wins in those two games.”
Services will head across the Tamar on Saturday without some key forwards.
Second-row Mike Rickard is already missing with his ankle injury, but Devonport will also be without player-coach and prop Rikki Bentham, who is a former Launceston player, and powerful back-five forward Mark Friend.
“We have the best team possible that we can put out, but there are a couple of boys missing,” said Russell.
“It is what it is, but the thing this year we do have strength in depth and boys have stepped up.”
Second-team forwards Kyle Felton and Isaiah Akinrowo could both be in contention for the first team this week.
Ivybridge could guarantee their status in Regional One South West on Saturday if they were to beat Exmouth at Cross-in-Hand and Okehampton failed to beat title-chasing Barnstaple.
The Bridgers, who sit third-from-bottom, have a seven-point gap over Devon rivals Okehampton, who fill the final relegation spot, with just three games to go.
Ivybridge don’t have a great record against Exmouth, winning only three of the 14 league fixtures played between the two clubs, but they did win the last meeting at Cross-in-Hand and they have only lost one of their last five home fixtures.
They will also have a point to prove against their east Devon rivals, having lost 60-14 away at the Imperial Ground in November.
“It is our last home outing and the guys know how important it is,” said Ivybridge head coach Davy McGregor.
“This weekend could mean what division we are playing in next season. If we win our status is secured, so that is our focus, and it just has to be all hands on deck.
“I would like to think that we have come on a bit since we last played them and we are a bit of different animal at home.”
McGregor says the club have ‘parked’ the heavy away defeat to Services in their last outing, but that his team have been working on trying to tighten up their defence.
McGregor is also pleasing to have seen the club’s second team have picked up in recent weeks.
“The Vandals have had two wins in a row and what is quite exciting is that we have also had a couple of new signings,” he said. “Despite not having a great season, it shows that players want to play for us and this is a long-term plan.
“It has been quite a positive week in training.”
Meanwhile, a number of Ivybridge’s colts featured at Twickenham on Thursday when Ivybridge College played in the English Schools’ U18 Vase final, where they were beaten 42-19 by Felsted.
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
SECOND-placed Plymstock Oaks are hoping they can end their home campaign on a high as they host bottom side Falmouth at Horsham Fields on Saturday.
Oaks are keen to bounce back from last weekend’s 14-5 away defeat at Penryn, which has left them one point behind leaders Tiverton, having now played the same number of games.
“We are at home and we need to get a bonus point win,” said Oaks head coach Lewis Paterson.
“It’s one of those where we know what we have to do.
“After Falmouth we then have Kingsbridge and Paignton away. So, we have got a tough run of games. Like I said before, it is a true test for us.”
Tavistock will be aiming to build on their win over Bude last weekend when they host fellow strugglers Bideford at Sandy Park.
Tavistock ended a run of six defeats in a row last Saturday with a 33-7 home win over Bude.
“Last week was last week,” said Tavistock head coach Joel Caddy. “But we are quite confident going into the game.
“We just have to put in the same type of performance.
“If Bideford rock up and are better on the day than us despite us playing at our best, then so be it, as you can only play to the best of your ability.
“It is going to be a bit heavy going and so it’s going to be case of who slogs it out the hardest.”
Tavistock do have to make a number of changes to last week, but they are boosted by having the likes of Rich Cann, Jake Gaskin, Ethan Lamerton, Jack Easton and Sean Donnelly available again.
COUNTIES TWO
PLYMOUTH Argaum could secure their status in Counties Two Devon if they were to beat city rivals OPMs at Bickleigh Down and North Tawton lose away at leaders Barnstaple II.
“We are looking forward to the weekend,” said Argaum head coach Dean Avery.
“We have had poor availability recently and some bad results. We were unfortunate not to get a win against Devonport Services, then drew with Exmouth and lost by one point to Honiton and we have ended up near the bottom.
“But I think if we get a win tomorrow then we are all-but mathematically safe.
“We have cubs’ day tomorrow so all the juniors are coming up, which is good, and a lot of the first team will be doing a training session for them beforehand. It is really good to see the drive for the kids.
“Then our second team are kicking off against OPMs seconds at 1.30pm and the ones kick-off at 2.30pm.
“I think we have nearly 40 players available in all, which is good considering we struggled to take a team to North Tawton.”
Argaum are set to welcome back the likes of Dave Clack, Tom Holliday, Tom Worboys, Owen Gocher, Lee Rowley, Jake Turfrey, Karl Bloomfield, Jake Turfrey, JP Browning and Eddie McGinley this weekend.
“We should have a completely different side out to the one we took up to North Tawton,” said Avery.
The Argaum boss was frustrated his side lost 22-20 away at OPMs in November after they missed a late kick to win the match.
“It was a very good game – and an even game,” said Avery. “We did take a strong team to them so we are expecting another tough game this weekend.
“OPMs have been doing well recently, which is nice to see. I’m sure it will be another good game played in the right spirit.
“The weather is not looking fantastic so it will probably be won and lost up front.”
OPMs are already safe in the league and they could move up to seventh if they were to win at Bickleigh Down this weekend.
But the Old Boys are expecting a tough match against their city rivals.
“Despite their results lately, I’m sure it is going to be a feisty, tough fixture,” said OPMs captain Billy Garratt. “I think they always seem to turn up when they play us. It is always a good, physical fixture.
“We are not taking anything for granted.
“They are obviously going to want to win, especially after coming off a loss.”
Devonport Services II will have their eyes on a top-two finish as they host Torquay Athletic at the Rectory on Saturday.
Torquay moved five points above Services II and into second place last weekend by beating North Tawton, but if Devonport could beat them with a bonus point they could move back above them.
The success of Services second string was highlighted last Sunday as Ethan Millard, Isaiah Akinrowo, Ethan Hillard, George Pooley, Jack Connor, Billy Sutton and Leighton Stark all featured for Devon U20s in their 41-7 win away at Cornwall in the County Championship.
Elsewhere in Counties Two Devon, bottom side Ivybridge II travel to seventh-placed Exmouth II.
In Counties Two Cornwall, title-chasing Saltash will be hoping to play their first game in a month when they travel to seventh-placed Newquay Hornets.
The Ashes’ last match came on February 17 when they beat Illogan Park 49-0 away.
Saltash will be looking for a good run-out this weekend ahead of their big title-showdown with Redruth II next Saturday.
The Moorlands Lane club did beat Newquay 83-5 at home in November, but the Hornets have really picked up form since then and have won five of their last six games.
COUNTIES THREE
THERE’S a derby game in Counties Three Devon South & West as second-placed Tamar Saracens host in-form Plymstock Oaks II at the Parkway.
A win would guarantee Sarries runners-up spot in the league, but they are expecting a tough test from Oaks II, who have won their last six league and cup games.
“The Plymstock II team from last year to this year is totally different,” said Saracens head coach Mike Lewis. “They have done really well to grow that side.
“They dug it out for a whole season last year – sometimes losing by 60 or 70 points – but those players that are still playing have now got better players come in and they have been rewarded.
“Look at their last league result? They were fantastic to beat Brixham II. I think that win was probably their best all season.”
Sarries are missing a host of players this Saturday, including Marc Cioffi, Rob Hall, Reece Boase, Josh Perkin, Joe McKinley, Ryan Currie, Scott Cooper, Alex Parry, Ed Cox, Alex Isreal, James Cluer, Dan Best and Leon Richards.
“We are missing a lot of boys this weekend,” said Lewis. “We have a lot of injuries, boys working, a couple who had booked trips away and just a combination of things. I think we have 13 or 14 boys unavailable, but we still have a side and a bench.
“Some guys who haven’t had a lot of game-time recently will get their chance this weekend.”
Old Techs are facing a similar scenario for their trip to third-placed Brixham II.
Techs have won five of their last six league and cup games, but will have to make changes to the team that beat Plympton Victoria in the Ellis Trophy semi-final last weekend.
“We have got a few missing,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith. “It is just one of those weekends.
“We have been quite consistent with our team since the new year, but it can’t be helped.
“It is a chance for players who have maybe been on the fringes to put their hands up with a cup final and a cup semi-final coming up.”
Techs know it will not be easy visiting Astley Park.
“I would not have thought many of our team have played there,” said Bedford-Smith. “It’s a nice ground and it will be a new place to go to.
“We had a really close game with them at our place (Brixham won 17-15). They had a young side out and we were winning for most of the game but maybe their fitness just showed and we got caught at the end when they spun it wide.
“They are third in the league and have been pretty consistent, so it is going to be hard playing them away. It is just a bit disappointing we are not going to be at full strength.”
Although they are missing a host of players, Techs are hoping to have Nathan Webb back after injury, as well as Jenson Baker, Malvin Dononoe and Lewis Tunnicliffe back.
Plympton Victoria also have a tough away trip this weekend as they visit fifth-placed Salcombe.
“The one thing with Salcombe is, like us, they are a one team club and so they can’t draw on first team players,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt.
Plym Vic will be keen to show that they have improved since they last played Salcombe in November when they lost 51-10.
In the same division, Tavistock II are also heading to south Devon as they visit Torquay Athletic II.
In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II will host St Austell III at Moorlands Lane.