DEVONPORT Services’ tough start to life in National Two West continues on Saturday as they host last season’s runners-up Luctonians at the Rectory (2.30pm).
Injury-hit Services have just one point to show for their efforts in their opening three matches against Bournville, Exeter University and Old Redcliffians.
But they have only played one home match and they are hoping they can put in a good performance on their own soil this weekend against unbeaten Luctonians.
“We are back at home, which we are very happy about,” said head coach Ben Russell. “We just have to try and get some wins and some points at home now.”
He added: “They (Luctonians) came second last year and have won three out of three this year. They are a very physical and athletic side, who look to win the collisions and then play.
“For us, it is just about trying to put a performance in.”
Despite losing their opening three matches at the higher level, Russell insists morale is still high in the camp.
“Morale is fine,” said Russell. “If we were way out of our depth and getting beaten because of that then maybe morale might be down and we’d be thinking ‘what’s the point’. But we are not way out of our depth; we’ve just got a few injuries and are just doing some silly things in games that are costing us massively.”
Russell is frustrated that so many of the team that got them promoted are out injured.
Mike Rickard, Mark Friend, James Hocking, Harrison Coonick, Matt Neyle, Toby Knowles and Charlie Groves are all out with long-term injuries, while Oli Symons and Yianni Costas are away.
“Having eight people who would be in the ones out isn’t great, but we’ll just crack on,” said Russell.
But Services do have Richard West and Joe Stansfield fit again after they missed last weekend’s trip to Old Redcliffians, while Aiden Taylor is expected to make his first start of the season after recovering from a hand injury.
Luctonians have beaten Clifton, Cinderford and Hinckley in their opening three games.
REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE head coach Davy McGregor will be looking for a big response from his side as they host Launceston at Cross-in-Hand on Saturday.
The Bridgers were hammered 78-8 away at Royal Wootton Bassett last weekend and McGregor hopes his team have learned their lesson.
“It was a learning curve and a lesson in attacking rugby,” said McGregor.
“But it’s a whole new week and we are back at home.
“We are different at home and we hope the boys can regroup and show a bit more.”
The Bridgers will know it will not be easy against a Launceston side who will also be looking for a response after losing 37-26 at home to Exmouth last weekend.
That was their first defeat of the campaign after previously beating Chew Valley and Brixham.
Ivybridge have only won three of the 10 league meetings between them and Launceston and the Cornish All Blacks did win both fixtures last season, including a 24-10 opening day win at Cross-in-Hand.
Ivybridge have made wholesale changes to their team that lost in Wiltshire last week.
Jack Lipscombe, Hamish Harris and Harry Towle, who was with Plympton Victoria last season, are all handed their first starts, while Giles Clarke, Charlie Teague, Matt Skeemer and Tom Hancocks also come into the starting line-up.
Ivybridge do not have on-loan Albion prop Dan Collier available and are also missing the experienced Adam Northcott, Matt Grieveson and Matt Finn.
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
TAVISTOCK will be looking to build on their first win of the season last weekend when they travel to Wiveliscombe on Saturday.
After heavy defeats to Oaks and Barnstaple II in their opening two fixtures, Tavistock finally got off the mark with a 36-14 home victory over Bideford.
The club are hoping they can use that result as a springboard, but they know it will be tough at Wiveliscombe, who have beaten the Pirates Amateurs and Penryn this season.
“A win at home last week was a huge boost,” said player-coach Hammy Kerswill. “But we know wins away from home can be hard to come by with so much travel in this league.
“Wivvey are still a little unknown to us after a win apiece last year, but they were strong up front and have started the season well.”
Tavistock are set to have Jack Easton available for the trip to Somerset before he moves to Australia, while fly-half Soco O’Connor is back, as is back-rower Jamie Legg.
However, prop Toby Teague is unavailable, but fellow front-rowers Joe Burbage and Richard Cann are able to travel.
Youngster Sam Palmer is set to keep his place after claiming the club’s man of the match award against Bideford last week.
Leaders Plymstock Oaks will be looking to continue their impressive early season form when they make the trip to north Cornwall to take on Bude.
Oaks have beaten Redruth II 63-17, Bideford 75-15 and Tavistock 45-3.
Plymstock struggled to beat Bude for years, but they have won the last two meetings, including a 109-7 home win in January and a 26-17 away success this time last year.
“They seem to have had a better start to the season,” said Oaks head coach Lewis Paterson. “They beat Kingsbridge.
“We know playing Bude at their place is always dangerous, but we just have to keep doing what we have been doing.”
Oaks will be hoping to have some players back after Corey Jamieson, Alex Chapman, Joe Brearley, Matt Jackson, Mac Lewis and Joe Donnolly all missed last week’s home win over Redruth II.
COUNTIES TWO
THERE’S another Plymouth derby in Counties Two Devon with Plymouth Argaum hosting Tamar Saracens at Bickleigh Down on Saturday.
Both clubs already have won a derby win each already this season, Argaum edging OPMs 15-13 on the opening day and Tamar Saracens beating the same team last week 15-14 also with a last-gasp penalty.
“They (Argaum) have had a couple of really tight games,” said Saracens head coach Mike Lewis. “Looking at their results, they haven’t had a bad start to the season and against Services they still managed to score five tries.
“At the moment we are just a little bit higher in the table in sixth after three games and if we did finish there at the end of the season, I think we would be overjoyed.
“We know Argaum and they know us, but hopefully, they don’t know us quite as well.
“We play a style of rugby and we want to continue doing that and I’m sure they are the same. It will be a case of who can do theirs a little bit better.
“We know they have a big side and we have to make sure we don’t get dragged into what they want us to do.”
Two seasons ago when they were last in the same division, both clubs won on away soil, with Argaum triumphing 33-0 at the Parkway and Sarries winning 40-28 at Bickleigh Down.
Argaum head coach Dean Avery said: “We do have to dig deep in the locker as our marines away and one of the lads has a stag-do, but we should have enough depth now to put out a strong 18 and hopefully we can get something out of the game.”
OPMs will be finally hoping to get off the mark this weekend when they host fellow strugglers Exmouth II at King George V Playing Fields.
The Old Boys have lost narrowly to both Argaum and Tamar Saracens, with last-gasp kicks deciding those contests, while they were well beaten in their only home game so far to a strong Devonport Services II side.
OPMs have at least picked up two losing bonus points, unlike their opponents this weekend, Exmouth II, who have been well beaten by Torquay, Exeter Saracens and Honiton in their opening three matches.
“We’ve got Exmouth II at home, which is a massive game for us now,” said OPMs head coach Andy Williams.
Williams has been keen to point out that the Old Boys made a slow start to last season but ended up finishing eighth.
Devonport Services II will be looking to make it four wins out of four when they host Withycombe at Keyham.
However, Services II are set to have to make more changes this week, not only due to injuries in the first team but because players are away.
“The second team are missing quite a few this week as people are on holiday, at weddings, etc, etc,” said head coach Ben Russell.
But Russell is hoping they will still have enough to be able to continue their unbeaten run and keep pace with Torquay Athletic, who are the only other team unbeaten in the division.
Leaders Saltash face a massive game in Counties Two Cornwall when they travel to second-placed Falmouth on Saturday.
Falmouth have come down from Western West and Saltash will be playing them in a league game for the first time in five years.
The Ashes have won the last few matches between the clubs and the Moorlands Lane side should head to the Recreation Ground in confident mood after big wins over Bodmin and St Just and a walkover against Veor.
Falmouth have won their opening three matches, but they have had to work hard for them. They beat Bodmin 21-17 away last weekend, triumphed 25-10 at home to St Just and edged out Wadebridge II 36-33 on the opening day.
Saltash are missing Will Morton, Greg Eatwell and Danny Snook from the team that beat Bodmin in their last outing, but they welcome Sam Snell, Ben Hocking and Lewis Stuart into their backline.
COUNTIES THREE
IN-FORM Old Techs will not be underestimating winless Totnes when they make the trip to Borough Park on Saturday.
Totnes caused a major upset last season by beating Techs 21-19 in early January.
It is a result that no-one in the Techs camp have forgot.
“I think we have used the words ‘remember what happened last time’ so many times this week,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith.
“I think that was a big turning point for us as I think the players had a good look at themselves.
“Now this week we are getting two teams out, which is what can happen if players decide to really commit.
“I think that result was a massive wake-up call for the players.
“They (Totnes) had 20 players last week to go to Ivybridge and we know teams are always stronger at home. We certainly won’t be underestimating them.
“Things are going well at the moment; we have had two good wins and our performance improved last week, but we just have to take it one game at a time.”
Techs will have two teams out for the first time in years as their new second side will play New Cross’ second string at Weston Mill.
“It is a massive achievement for us,” said Bedford-Smith.
“New Cross are in a similar situation to us. They are starting up a second team and are happy to come down.”
Both clubs are happy for any extra players who fancy a game to come down.
Techs, who beat Salcombe 60-20 at home last week, are missing Steve Wilkinson, Josh O’Hare, Tom Blythe and Eddie Ramazani, but they are able to welcome back the likes of Sam Courtney, James Douglas, Ben Hill and Ben Wheatley.
Plympton Victoria had also been due to get two teams out this weekend, but their second team’s opponents have postponed the game until October 19.
Plym Vic’s first face the tough trip to Salcombe, who are traditionally strong at home.
“We are looking forward to it,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt. “We’ll just see what the day brings.
“We have had some hard games to start the season off with.
“This week we are a little bit shy of backs, but with the growth we have had in the squad we can get a side out, which is key.”
In the same division, unbeaten Ivybridge II travel to Paignton II, while Plymstock Oaks II host Torquay Athletic II at Horsham Fields, but Tavistock II are once again unable to get a side out.
In Counties Three Cornwall, unbeaten Saltash II make the trip to Illogan Park.