PLYMSTOCK Oaks and Tamar Saracens will be aiming to progress in Papa Johns Community Cup competitions this weekend.
Oaks have to make the long trip to Sherborne in the level seven competition, while Tamar Saracens will be hosting familiar opponents when they welcome cup holders Dartmouth to the Parkway in their level trophy.
Saltash have also entered the national cup, but they have received a walkover into the next round after Warminster said they could not raise a side to host them.
Oaks, who finished third in Counties One Western West, will be looking for their first away win since November when they make the trip to Counties One Southern South side Sherborne, who also finished third in their division.
Plymstock head coach Lewis Paterson admits they will be facing the unknown this weekend.
“We know absolutely nothing about them,” he said.
“But it will be a good bus trip. Cup games are fun. There’s no real pressure as it’s not a league. We can go out and play a bit of rugby.
“Hopefully, the weather will be on our side and we can have a good, fun cup run.”
Tamar Saracens will be hoping it will be third time lucky this season against league rivals Dartmouth.
The sides finished first and second in Counties Three Devon South & West, with Dartmouth winning the league title after edging out Sarries 14-10 at the Parkway and 14-11 at their place.
“We lost the first game to them with the last play of the game and the second one we didn’t turn up as well as we should have,” said Saracens head coach Mike Lewis.
“We don’t want to regret losing to them three times this season and we don’t want to let them have an unbeaten season in the league and cup, so let’s try and steal their limelight for a game and hopefully progress on.
“We have worked hard this season to get where we have got – and I’m sure they have as well.
“Second in the league is great, but we just want something a tiny bit more tangible for the chaps.
“We did finish top of the Combination Merit Table, which is a bit of a pat on the back and a well done, but a nice little cup run would end the season perfectly.”
He added: “They won the cup the last year and have won our league so they seem to be the team to beat this year.
“I am quietly confident with the side we have out. In the last two games against them we have almost been like a rabbit in a headlight and haven’t not done our thing and played the same as them rather than our game plan.
“I think we have to realise this could be our last game of the season and play the way we play. If we win, then it won’t be our last game of the season, but we just have to treat it as if it is.”
Regional One South West champions Devonport Services should have been playing Ivybridge in a two-legged Devon Senior Cup semi-final, but the Cross-in-Hand club have pulled out of the competition.
It means reigning cup holders Services will not play again until the final on May 4 when they will meet either Brixham or Exmouth.
Tavistock have also pulled out of their Devon cup competition. They should have been playing Bideford in a double-headed semi-final.
However, OPMs and Old Techs are both in Devon cup action this weekend.
OPMs will host Exeter Saracens at King George V Playing Field in the opening game of a two-legged semi-final in the level eight competition.
It will be the Old Boys’ second cup game in four days, having lost to Saltash on Wednesday night in the Lockie Cup semi-final.
“We still have something to play for,” said OPMs captain Billy Garratt.
“We beat them (Exeter Saracens) in the league at home, but they beat us quite convincingly at their place. It’ll be interesting to see what happens.”
In-form Old Techs are hosting Exeter Athletic in a one-legged affair in the Devon Junior Bowl.
They are already in the Ellis Trophy final and would love to make another final.
“We have got a great incentive,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith. “And it’s good that we are at home.
“But it is a cup game and so league form goes out of the window.
“We haven’t played them for two or three years. Our team has completed changed and so I’m sure their side has too.
“The fact that we are already in one cup final means the lads want to keep training as they know there’s competition for places.
“And I think the lads are up for it as they want to get to another final, but we have to get past Exeter Athletic.”
Dale Thompson has now joined Techs’ long list of injured players after he pulled his hamstring last weekend, but the club should have Lewis Harvey and Jack Courtney available again this weekend.