DEVONPORT Services have been hit by more injuries ahead of their trip to Old Redcliffians on Saturday in National Two West.
Having already started their debut season in National League rugby without Mark Friend, Aiden Taylor, Mike Rickard and Matt Neyle, they have now lost James Hocking, Harrison Coonick, Toby Knowles and Charlie Groves.
Coonick broke his arm against Exeter University last Saturday, while fellow winger Knowles broke his hand in the same match.
Fellow back Groves would have been rewarded for scoring four tries against OPMs last weekend for the second team, but he has also broken his hand, while influential flanker Hocking picked up a shoulder injury last weekend.
“We now have seven lads who were in the Devon Cup final on the touchline,” said Services’ head coach Ben Russell.
“In my first two years we were sort of lucky as we only had a couple of ones’ players out injured at the same time. It seemed to be if someone got injured, someone else was coming back at the same time so it always worked out quite nicely.”
Services do have summer signing Henry Gliddon available this week after navy duties and Dylan Daley is back from holiday, while Tyler Busfield is likely to be promoted back to the first team squad after impressing for the second team.
After tough games against Exeter University and Bournville in their opening two fixtures, Services have another difficult match this weekend when they visit Old Redcliffians.
The Bristol club finished fourth in National Two West last season and have won 11 home league games on the bounce.
Their last league defeat at Scotland Lane was last October when eventual champions Dings beat them.
“They are a very good side, who came fourth last year,” said Russell.
“They have got some good players and have recruited well. They got a couple of good players from Chew.
“The thing about the league, if you stay up the first year then the second year should be easier as you are used to it. Bournville survived because no-one got relegated one year and they were able to build on what they had.
“We just have to go up there and try and improve on last week and just hope we don’t get any more players injured.”
REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE will be aiming to claim their first away win of the season when they travel to league newcomers Royal Wootton Bassett on Saturday.
The Bridgers got off the mark at home last weekend with a narrow 34-32 victory over Devon rivals Sidmouth, having agonisingly lost 28-27 at Matson on the first weekend of the new campaign.
Royal Wootton Bassett, who were the Regional Two Severn champions last season, also have one win and one defeat to their name.
The Wiltshire side beat Chew Valley 25-19 at home on the opening day before losing 34-21 away at Exmouth last Saturday.
The two clubs have met twice before in league rugby during the 2021-22 campaign, with Ivybridge winning on both occasions.
The Bridgers do make six changes to their starting line-up for their long away trip.
Matt Grieveson, who picked up a hamstring injury last week, Dan Skeemer and Matt Skeemer are unavailable, Dan Gloyns drops down to the bench, while Wes Vermigle and Charlie Teague are named in the second team who are playing Totnes at home.
Coming into the starting line-up are Hayden Coles, Harrison Legge, Henry Burke, Matt Finn, Will Peakman and Michael Jenson.
Giles Clarke is back and is named on the bench, alongside Jack Lipscombe and Gloyns.
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
PLYMSTOCK Oaks are relishing their first home game of the season as they take on newly-promoted Redruth II at Horsham Fields.
Oaks have started the 2024-25 campaign on fire, with a 45-3 win at Tavistock and then a 75-15 victory at Bideford.
“I think everyone is up for the first home game,” said head coach Lewis Paterson.
“We have a bit of a kit sponsors’ day going on and then Oaktobeerfest on so there’s a lot around the game, which will be good.”
He added: “We are missing a couple of boys. It just means a shuffle around, but we still have some good players to come in.”
Backs Corey Jamieson, Joe Brearley, Alex Chapman and Mac Lewis and hooker Joe Donnelly are all unavailable, but Oaks are set to have Duncan Bibby and Matt Jackson returning from injury.
Redruth II are still looking for their first win since winning promotion. They have lost away at Kingsbridge and away at Paignton.
“We’ve started with an absolute bang, but we still know any team can turn up on their day and we have to be prepared for it,” said Paterson.
“This season we are quite aware and humble. I think last season we surprised ourselves with how well we did but then we maybe got complacent, and I think some of those scars are still there.
“When you look at Redruth and the squad they have got we know they could bring a really tasty team and so you just have to prepare for that.
“We just have to make sure we do the things we need to do. We’ve just got to stick to what we have been doing and what has been working – throwing the ball around and playing open and expansive rugby which is hard to defend.”
After a tough start to the season, Tavistock are hoping to regroup for a big home match against fellow strugglers Bideford.
Tavistock lost 45-3 at home to Oaks in their opening game before going down 74-7 away at Barnstaple II last weekend.
Bideford have also conceded more than 100 points in their opening two games, losing 32-21 to Paignton and then 75-15 to Oaks.
“It is a huge game for us so early on in the season,” admitted player-coach Hammy Kerswill.
“It’s a time to step up, stick to what we know and enjoy being back out on the pitch in front of great support.”
Tavistock have been pulling out all the stops this week to try and get players to make themselves available.
And they are able to welcome back the likes of Toby Teague, Joe Burbage, Richard Cann, Jack Osborne, Andrew Schuttkacker, Martin Budden, Charles Bowden, Chris Watts and Andrew Craddock, who has re-signed from Okehampton. They are also set to give a debut to youngster Will White.
“There’s been a good response to Saturday,” said Kerswill. “We’ve got our VP day and a few returning faces.”
Tavistock were also close to getting a second team out. They got two thirds of a side, but they were unable to get the extras they needed to head to Torquay Athletic II.
“We are getting there and we are determined to get them back out sooner rather than later,” said Kerswill.
COUNTIES TWO
IT is Plymouth derby day in Counties Two Devon on Saturday with Tamar Saracens hosting OPMs at the Parkway and Plymouth Argaum heading to the Rectory to take on Devonport Services II.
OPMs are the only Plymouth side not to have won either of their opening two games, but they would love to put that right against Sarries.
“Tamar Saracens will be another test as they are a decent side,” said OPMs captain Billy Garratt, whose team have lost to Argaum and Services II in their opening two matches. “But hopefully we’ve got decent availability and can get a ‘W’ on the board.”
Tamar Saracens’ head coach Mike Lewis added: “I think our boys are looking forward to it.
“We haven’t played OPMs for a little while, as when the leagues were reshuffled, they got chucked across into the east side, so I think both clubs are looking forward to this one.
“It’s one of those games that is always a leveller, a bit like matches against Techs and Argaum. I think it will be a close scoreline.”
Both Sarries and OPMs are going into the match on the back of heavy defeats to sides expected to be pushing for promotion.
OPMs lost 59-5 at home to Services II, while an injury-hit Saracens side were beaten 62-6 away at Honiton.
“From all the reports I’ve heard, Services II were fantastic against OPMs last week,” said Lewis. “I think they were really on the ball and Honiton were fantastic against us, so we were both on the end of a bit of a hiding. Both teams will be keen to rectify that in the first game back.
“We have got a few boys back but unfortunately, Adam Corbett, our hooker, ruptured his bicep and we’re just waiting to see if he needs an operation.”
Adam Coutts, Marc Cioffi, Joey Pook, Lew Harris and Dane Waryck are set to be available again for Sarries, who are planning a big family day on Saturday starting at 1.30pm.
“We’ve got a family day with a bouncy castle, a tuck shop and local fate stuff, including welly tossing,” said Lewis.
“We are trying to become a real family club.
“It’s a chance for the kids to keep busy while their mums and dads watch the rugby.
“Hopefully we will get a good turnout on Saturday.”
The other derby match is at the Rectory where unbeaten Devonport Services II host Argaum, who have one narrow win to their name and one narrow defeat.
Having edged out OPMs 15-13 on the opening day, Argaum were a bit frustrated to concede a late penalty and lose 16-14 at home to Withycombe last Saturday.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t at the game last week,” said head coach Dean Avery. “But watching it back a couple of times, we left so many points out there. We must take the positives out of it as it was against a team we lost to quite comprehensively last season.
“We are an improving side with good availability.
“We know Services are a strong outfit, but there’s no reason why we can’t match them in all areas around the park. If we do that and turn possession into points, then we may upset them.”
Argaum are without Dave Clack and possibly a couple of their marines, but they should have Eddie McGinley, Tom Mann and Al Percival back.
Services II will have to make some changes as Charlie Groves, who scored four tries last week, is out with a broken hand, while Tyler Busfield is set to be promoted to the first team and a couple of players are going to watch the Anthony Joshua fight.
“The twos will be a little bit changed,” said Services head coach Ben Russell. “They won’t be as strong as last week, but it should still be a good side.”
In Counties Two Cornwall, in-form early season leaders Saltash should have been making the tricky trip to Veor, but the Camborne club have already handed them a walkover.
It is Saltash’s 11th first team walkover in just over two years, and they will be wondering how many more they might get this season.
In their opening two league games, they beat St Just 67-0 away and overcame Bodmin 86-0 at home.
Their second team have also been handed a walkover by Redruth Albany.
Also in Counties Two Cornwall, Liskeard-Looe will host Hayle at Lux Park on Saturday.
COUNTIES THREE
THE big game in Counties Three Devon South & West is at Weston Mill where Old Techs host Salcombe.
Both sides are expected to be challenging towards the top of the division and have had some good battles over the years, including last season where both matches went down to the wire.
Techs won 12-8 at home but were just edged out 27-26 away.
Saturday will be their first home game of the season and they are holding an old boys’ and sponsors’ day.
“It’s early season, but it is a big game, especially as we are at home,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith.
“We know we need to be doing well at home.
“They (Salcombe) scored quite a lot of points against Ivybridge II last week who had a decent side out.
“It should be an interesting game. I think everyone is looking forward to it.
“Last season both games could have gone either way. There was nothing between us in either match. They are normally pretty even matches between us.”
Techs opened their season with a 64-27 away win at Plympton Victoria last weekend.
“We need to tighten up defensively,” said Bedford-Smith. “We played some really good, attacking rugby and scored some really great tries, but we just had a 10-minute spell where we took our foot of the gas. Plym Vic, though, did well and put on some scores.
“Judging on our games with them last season, Salcombe will be a step up, but I think our players are looking forward to it.”
Techs have 28 players to pick from this week, but Lewis Harvey, Ben Wheatley and Ben Hockey, who all played last week, are unavailable. However, Steve Wilkinson, Nathan Webb, Luke Taylor, Si Noville, Eddie Ramazani and Malvin Dononoe are back in the mix.
Techs are inviting any former players to their old boys’ day, which starts with a buffet in the clubhouse at 1pm.
Plymstock Oaks II will hope to finally kick-start their season on Saturday when they travel to Brixham II.
Oaks II were handed a walkover by Tavistock II in their opening game and then were the odd team out last weekend.
“I think our second team will heavily involve a lot of second-year colts, which is a huge milestone as that’s what we want – young lads having a taste of senior rugby,” said Oaks head coach Lewis Paterson.
“It will be a good little baptism of fire as Brixham will be decent.”
Unbeaten Ivybridge II are in action at home against Totnes.
The Bridgers’ second string, who have beaten Salcombe and Plympton Victoria in their opening two games, are once again able to field a strong side that includes the likes of Wes Vermigle, Seb Musgrave, Charlie Teague, Owen Garner and Luke Martell.
Plympton Victoria are without a match this weekend, while Tavistock II have pulled out of their fixture against Torquay Athletic II. It is the third week running Tavistock II have been unable to field a side.
In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II were due to host Redruth Albany, but that game is also off as the visiting side were struggling for players.
Albany put out an appeal that was widely shared on social media appealing for players.
The post said: “The last time we forfeited a league fixture was November 2021 and would like to avoid this.”
However, they were unable to get enough to make the trip and so both Saltash sides are left without a fixture.