DEVONPORT Services play their first home game in National Two West on Saturday when they host the only other Devon team in the league, Exeter University, at the Rectory.

Services won all their home games last season as they won both the Regional One South West title and Devon Senior Cup.

But they know they are likely to be thoroughly tested this weekend by an Exeter University side who finished in the top five last season and who can boast four of England’s U20 World Cup winning squad.

“We expect them to be fully loaded with young Chiefs players who are at university,” said Services head coach Ben Russell.

“The rumour is their team will have four England U20 players who won the World Cup and 13 young Chiefs players.

“They are going to be a very good young side, but we are not going to lie down, we’ll fight for everything and see what happens.”

Russell admits there were plenty of positives from their opening National League match at Bournville last Saturday, despite losing 40-22.

“They (Bournville) have been in the league two or three years and have won 11 games out of 13 at home and at least we came away with a point so that’s positive,” he said.

“And if you look at the game in general, we could have come away with two points.”

Services will again be without hooker Aiden Taylor after he suffered a nasty hand injury at home before the trip to Bournville. His absence could give an opportunity for youngster Ethan Hilland to come into the squad, alongside fellow young front-row forward Yianni Costas, who scored two tries last Saturday in Birmingham.

Dan Goldstone is back after holiday, but Kieran Down could keep the number nine jersey after impressing last weekend. Dylan Daley is still away, while Mark Friend is still injured.

REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST

IVYBRIDGE also have a home Devon derby to look forward to on Saturday as they take on newly-promoted Sidmouth at Cross-in-Hand.

Both sides made a losing start to the season last weekend, with Ivybridge narrowly losing 28-27 away at Matson after conceding a last-gasp converted try and Sidmouth going down 30-19 at home to Exmouth.

The Bridgers did return from Gloucestershire with two bonus points and head coach Davy McGregor feels their performance should give them belief.

“I think last week, even though we lost, it gave the boys confidence as we were just a kick away from taking home five points,” he said.

He added: “Last year was about staying in the fight, but now it is about taking the front foot in the fight. We can’t be setting our targets lower than scoring tries and winning games.

“Last year we were probably a bit more respectful and had to choose our battles a little bit and look after injuries, but now it’s case of we have to take the bull by the horns.

“I think there is an opportunity for us. I’m not talking winning leagues, but I’m talking about having a real good season.”

Ivybridge are without Matt Finn, Tom Hancocks and Giles Clarke, who all started last weekend’s game, but they are able to welcome back Henry Trudgill and Will Peakman to the squad, while Ben Fallows will make his debut at full-back and Archie Mitchell gets a chance in the pack.

“We have a couple of injuries and a couple of unavailabilites, but we have strengthened in other areas with the likes of Will Peakman, Archie Mitchell and Ben Fallows back in the mix,” said McGregor.

“We had another 46 players to pick from for our two games this weekend, which is great considering we have 10 out injured.

“The big thing the boys need to realise they have to take their opportunities. If they do get a crack, they have to take it with both hands otherwise there are other lads there who will take their place.

“It has created an edge in training which I don’t think the boys will have had in a long time.”

McGregor admits Sidmouth are unknown opponents for them having just come into the league. The east Devon club do have former Exeter back Phil Dollman as a player-coach.

COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST

PLYMSTOCK Oaks are on their travels again this Saturday when they make the trip to north Devon to take on Bideford.

Oaks made an impressive start to the 2024-25 campaign with a 45-3 away victory at Plymouth Combination rivals Tavistock last weekend.

They have had the better of Bideford in recent meetings, but they are not expecting an easy game at King George’s Field.

“When you are going up to north Devon, it’s always tough,” said Oaks head coach Lewis Paterson.

“They were a bit in between last season. They had a block where they were doing really well and they had a block where they had some boys out, but they are a good side.

“They are a big side and were good up there last year, but we played some really good rugby on the day (to win).

“We are just trying to take it week by week.”

He added: “We have a good squad of about 45 players for the first and seconds that were really committed in the pre-season.

“We don’t have a second team game again so we will have a real headache around selection. We just have to take the right team for the type of game.”

Tavistock will be looking to re-group after their heavy opening day defeat to Oaks.

They are also on the road to north Devon as they visit newly-promoted Barnstaple II, who were unbeaten at home last season in Counties Two Devon.

“We lost to them away two seasons ago,” said player-coach Hammy Kerswill. “I think that was the only game we lost that season we got promoted.

“A lot can change with a twos team, but they have got an organised defence.”

He added: “But we just need to have belief and get out there and enjoy it and if we do that results will come.”

COUNTIES TWO

TAMAR Saracens head coach Mike Lewis hopes his side’s opening day home win over Exeter Saracens will have given his players confidence after their promotion from Counties Three Devon South & West.

Sarries edged out their Exeter namesakes 9-3 in wet conditions at the Parkway.

But they expect a much tougher challenge this weekend when they visit Honiton.

“Let’s face it, they are one of the favourites,” said Lewis. “So, it would be nice to try and get an upset.”

He added: “Exeter Saracens finished fourth last year, so we were happy to get a result against them.

“We are playing against some of the better teams in the league to start off with and we just have to embrace the challenge.

“I’m not sure yet, even after last week, that the boys think they are good enough. I think they need to have more confidence and really believe that we are a pretty decent team and that we are meant to be in this league and in the top half of it.”

But Sarries will have to travel to east Devon without three key players.

Joey Pook is facing a couple of weeks on the sidelines after injuring his shoulder last week, while fellow forward Marc Cioffi is struggling with a knee injury and back Ryan Deacon broke his elbow last Saturday against Exeter Saracens.

“We are missing a few,” said Lewis. “It is a bit disappointing and annoying, but these things happen. Is it better to get them out of the way now or not? When is the best time to have injuries?

“The team will change considerably from last weekend and we’ll have a couple of boys out of position, but we still have a good side travelling up.”

Plymouth Argaum will be looking to build on their opening day home win over OPMs when they host Withycombe at Bickleigh Down.

Argaum scored a last-gasp try to beat OPMs 15-13 last weekend and they are keen to try and make home advantage count again against a Withycombe side whose match against Dartmouth last Saturday was abandoned early due to an injury.

“We are at home again and we should have a few players back, but Eddie McGinley is unavailable,” said Argaum head coach Dean Avery.

“People will be disappointed to be left out, but that’s positive.”

Tom Holliday and Tom Worboys are fit to start, while Luke McCreath is set to start at fly-half, with James Lovering coming in at full-back.

Withycombe were 7-0 up when last weekend’s game with Dartmouth was abandoned, so that does not give Argaum much of a clue about what to expect this season from the Exmouth-based club.

Last term, Argaum lost 29-7 at them at home and 55-0 away.

For the second week running, OPMs face a Plymouth derby as they host Devonport Services II at King George V Playing Fields.

The Old Boys felt they should have won last week against Argaum, but are keen to improve for the tough challenge Services II will bring.

Devonport’s second string won both meetings between the sides last season, triumphing 28-6 at King George V Playing Fields and 48-17 at Keyham.

But in both games OPMs were on top in spells and so Services II will not be taking them lightly.

“They are going to try and take us on up front and they are going to come hard,” said Services head coach Ben Russell.

“A lot of boys in the twos want to be playing in the ones, but if they want to do that, they need to show they are the best on that park.”

In Counties Two Cornwall, Saltash play their first home game of the season when they welcome Bodmin to Moorlands Lane.

The Ashes got their season off to a comfortable start last weekend with a 67-0 away win at St Just.

Bodmin did not play last Saturday as their match away at Veor was postponed until October 5.

The Ashes have won all the recent meetings between the clubs. Last season Bodmin gave Saltash a home walkover, while the Moorlands Lane club won 55-10 away.

Saltash are able to welcome back winger Will Morton to the starting line-up, while James Sutton, Jason Carroll, Adam Merritt and debutant Jack Chaney come on to the bench.

Also in Counties Two Cornwall, Liskeard-Looe visit St Austell II.

COUNTIES THREE

OLD Techs finally kick-off their season in Counties Three Devon South & West with a visit to city rivals Plympton Victoria on Saturday.

Techs were the odd team out in the 11-club division last weekend and so are looking forward to finally playing this week.

“We are ready for it,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith. “It feels like it has been a long summer. It seems like ages since our last competitive game.

“I think the lads are looking forward to it.”

Techs did play a second team fixture against Devonport Services III last Saturday and Bedford-Smith admits with the numbers they have got training now it will be hard to select a side for the first league game.

“It’s going to be and some players are going to miss out, but that is sort of the reason we are trying to get the second team up and running again,” he said.

“But it’s a long season and if you look at the team clubs put out in the first game to the last one, then probably half are different.

“If players aren’t selected this week, they will be disappointed, but they will get their chance if they are training and working hard.”

Sam Courtney has returned to Techs after a season playing at Regional One South West side Ivybridge.

“Sam’s back from Ivybridge and he’ll be a good addition,” said Bedford-Smith. “I think he said he is around until December.”

On Saturday’s test against Plym Vic, Bedford-Smith added: “We had a couple of good games against them last season. You can’t take any team lightly.

“They are a club going in the right direction. I think they have recruited and been getting good numbers so I think they will be further up the league than last season.”

Plym Vic started their 2024-25 campaign away at Ivybridge II, who have come down from the higher league, last weekend and were beaten 43-3.

“The curse of having a league with second teams in it you are always going to be dealing with players that play at a much higher level than you are,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt.

“At least half the teams in this league are second teams and some games you will be dealing with players that might be coming back from injury or can’t get in the firsts, but conversely there will be those sides whose first teams are struggling and then their second teams are going to be lacking.”

Plym Vic know facing Ivybridge II and Techs in their opening two games is a tough start, but they are looking forward to this week’s challenge.

“We’ll see what it is,” said Hunt. “We just have to take every game as it comes.

“We’ll prepare as best we can and go at it.

“With us we can be terrible one week and great the next. We just have to work on how to build that consistency into our game. If we can start to play consistently well, we can start nicking those victories and shaving down the points differences.”

Ivybridge II are away at Salcombe, also one of the teams expected to be among the leading sides in the division.

“Salcombe away will be tough for the Vandals,” said McGregor. “We do have a lot of young players in the team.”

Ivybridge II, though, will also have some experience in their side, with the likes of Seb Musgrave, Hayden Coles, Harrison Legge and Owen Garner in their line-up.

Plymstock Oaks II are without a match this weekend, while Tavistock II are for the second week running unable to get a side out. The Moorlands had been due to host Brixham II at Sandy Park.

In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II will start their season with a trip to Falmouth II.