DEVONPORT Services will be hoping for a decent crowd when they host Cornish side Redruth in a first ever league meeting between the two sides (2.30pm).
Without a ‘proper’ derby to look forward to this season in National Two West, Saturday’s game at the Rectory is probably Services’ biggest home fixture.
Redruth have been playing National League rugby for 34 years and at one stage they were six divisions higher than Devonport.
But now they find themselves in the same division and only separated by four places, with Redruth sitting in 10th spot and Services, still looking for their first National League win, at the foot of the table in 14th.
Devonport are hoping that having last week off has recharged their batteries and they can finally pick up some points at home. The four points they have collected so far have all come on their travels.
“I think the week off was needed as due to all our injuries most of our players have played eight full games,” said head coach Ben Russell.
“It may have been nice to have had Macclesfield now because we would have been more refreshed.
“But I think everyone is looking forward to getting back on the pitch. Everyone is more refreshed after that week off.”
Russell hopes they will get a good crowd this week to try and cheer them on to a famous victory.
“We have gone up a league, but our attendances are down because we haven’t got a real derby game like against an Ivybridge or a Brixham,” he said.
“I think probably the biggest crowd for away supporters was Exeter University because they were all students their parents came to watch.
“But hopefully, Redruth will bring a few. For their supporters, other than Camborne, we are their next closest game.”
Services should have Joe Stansfield and Henry Gliddon back available, but they are still missing the likes of Harrison Coonick, Dylan Daley, Matt Neyle, Toby Knowles, Mark Friend and Mike Rickard.
“We are still missing a fair few people, but we have a couple back that will make us a bit stronger,” said Russell.
“We have got those first eight games out of the way. I said to the lads after the Macclesfield game that it just summed up our first eight games – at times we have been sensational but we have not been doing it for 80 minutes and other parts of games we have been properly poor.”
Russell is just hoping they can put a full 80-minute performance in this week in what is only their fourth home match of the season, having played five of their first eight games away.
REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE will be looking to move out of the bottom two when they host Exmouth in a Devon derby in Regional One South West.
The Bridgers secured a much-needed win in their last outing by beating Chew Valley 43-35 away.
Although the five points they picked up in Bristol was not enough to lift them out of the relegation zone, they are now just five points off sixth place.
But they will be aware that it would be tough to pick up another five points this weekend against second-placed Exmouth, who have only lost one game so far this season, away at Brixham.
Ivybridge, though, did beat Exmouth in the last league meeting at Cross-in-Hand back in March.
The Bridgers do have to make changes to their side that beat Chew.
Dan Collier, Adam Northcott, Henry Burke and Henry Lakeman are missing from the side that won two weeks ago.
Coming into the starting XV are Will Peakman, Tom Hancocks, fit-again Matt Grieveson and Ben Fallows.
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
PLYMSTOCK Oaks and Tavistock both face tricky away tests this weekend in Western West.
Second-placed Oaks head to Somerset to take on fourth-placed Wiveliscombe, who are known for their strong home form.
“It will be a good test,” said Oaks’ head coach Lewis Paterson. “They have started well and we know they have a good pack.
“We just have to go up there with the right mind-set and confidence that we can do the job.
“If we can go up there and get a win it would be really good for us as everyone is really close around the top.
“We had a slip at the Pirates (in the last away game) but full credit to the Pirates they were on fire and we went down with a makeshift squad.
“But we got back on track against Barnstaple II. When you are playing the likes of Barnstaple II and Wivilescombe you just have to try and grind out wins as that can be the difference.”
He added: “It is a bit of a trek to Wiveliscombe, but they have to travel to all the other teams. We just have to put our big boy pants on and embrace the travel, go up there with a good mind-set, get there in plenty of time and then we can get a good warm-up and we’ll just see. All we can do is prepare well and see.”
Oaks are hoping that Corey Jamieson can recover from a knock he picked up in training.
Struggling Tavistock face a Devon derby as they head to the South Hams to take on mid-table Kingsbridge.
Tavistock have only won one game so far this season – a home victory over Bideford on September 21 – and they are missing some key players this weekend.
Liam Watts, Toby Teague, Richard Cann, Jack Giddy, Jack Osborne, Ethan Lamerton, Andrew Craddock, Andrew Schuttkacker, Jack Rocks and Jack Lewis are among those that have featured this season who are not available. Hammy Kerswill and Charlie Charlton are also major doubts due to injuries, but they do welcome back Martin Budden and Jack Glover.
“We have a fair injury list and availability is hindering us again,” said captain and player-coach Hammy Kerswill.
“We’ve had so many players move out of the area/retire or generally stop playing. It is a rebuild for sure, but we have young talent.
“We just have to be competitive in games, enjoy them and we will see the results.
“We’ve shown we aren’t far away in terms of a couple of close scorelines but we will struggle getting over the line without getting some depth back in the squad.”
COUNTIES TWO
TAMAR Saracens will be looking to get back to winning ways when they host bottom side South Molton on Saturday.
Sixth-placed Sarries won three out of their opening four matches following their promotion, but have since lost their last three.
They were beaten at home by Devonport Services and Withycombe and then beaten away at Exmouth II in their last outing two weeks ago.
“We could, and should, have won our last couple,” said Saracens head coach Mike Lewis.
“Exmouth had 14 changes from the week before and towards the end of the game we just fell off a little bit. We picked up a couple of injuries and got a bit sluggish.
“Against Withycombe the week before, we were probably the better team on the pitch but didn’t score enough points.
“Hopefully, this weekend we can just come together a little bit better and play our brand a little bit better. We just need to be that five or 10 per cent better here and there and make the right decisions. If we’d done that in both of those games we would have won and been flying.”
He added: “We have a sponsors and old boys’ day on Saturday, so it’s quite a big day for the club. We should have a good crowd.”
Sarries should welcome back captain Frazer Tatchell but they are still missing a few other players.
“We are missing a few backs, but we have so many forwards available. We might have to move a few things around,” said Lewis.
Sarries have lost back Ryan Currie to his hometown club Ivybridge. He was struggling to make training and play games due to family commitments.
“He’s been fantastic for us and is a really good bloke and we were really sorry to see him go, but if he hadn’t have gone he wouldn’t have been playing any rugby. If he had stayed with us, he might have only played four games but up there he can play almost every other week.”
Plymouth Argaum are another team looking to get back to winning ways at home as they welcome Topsham II to Bickleigh Down on Saturday.
Argaum did win their last home match against South Molton, but were well beaten 60-26 with a makeshift squad at Dartmouth in their last game.
“The guys have had a week off so hopefully they are refreshed and ready for a game,” said Argaum head coach Dean Avery.
“Having so many injured against Dartmouth and going down to 12 men left us with a bit of hangover, but we have a decent enough squad out this weekend, especially at home, to be competitive.
“OPMs went up to Topsham and got a result, so we have to fancy ourselves this week.
“If we want to be finishing mid-table then we need to be winning these type of games.”
Argaum do have a lot of key players injured and could hand a debut to former Kingsbridge player Stuart Giles, who can play hooker as well as in the backs.
“We have about 22 available, which is fantastic, but it’s just unfortunate that we do have a lot of key individuals out, but it gives other players an opportunity,” said Avery.
Fifth-placed OPMs are also at home this weekend. They have the tough task of welcoming unbeaten league leaders Torquay Athletic to King George V Playing Fields.
After a slow start to the season, OPMs have won three out of their last four games, but they know it will be a difficult task against a Torquay side that have run in some big scores against other teams, including third-placed Exeter Saracens.
The Old Boys are hoping they will get a decent crowd at Elburton as they bid to cause a major upset.
Devonport Services II would certainly love their city rivals to shock Torquay.
Services II and Torquay are both still unbeaten and have opened up a gap on the rest of the sides.
Devonport’s second string host Dartmouth at Stonehouse Creek (1.15pm).
Services II go into the match having been named the RFU’s level eight team of the month.
Coach Tom Richards said: “We are very pleased to have won this award. The lads have been fantastic and it’s a demonstration of how much effort the lads have been putting in to win this award and remain unbeaten.
“It’s been a real pleasure to help some of the younger boys come through the system and be successful in the senior setup. It’s been even more pleasing to get this award with still so many people out with injuries and that’s a true credit to the lads for stepping up.
“I’m so excited to see how this team keeps growing – they’re such a great bunch of boys.”
Services II should be stronger this week as with Joe Stansfield and Henry Gliddon returning for the first team it means some players are likely to be dropping down.
But they will be a little bit wary of Dartmouth, who after a poor start to the season, have won two out of their three games.
In Counties Two Cornwall, unbeaten leaders Saltash make the long trip to visit struggling Hayle.
The Ashes did convincingly beat Hayles home and away last season, but they know they cannot afford to underestimate any team as they need five points every week to guarantee promotion.
Hayle have won two matches this campaign – at home to St Just and Veor – but they have had some close games and finished within one score of second-placed Newquay Hornets.
COUNTIES THREE
The big game in Devon South & West is at Astley Park where the only two remaining unbeaten sides – Brixham II and Old Techs – clash.
Both teams have 100 per cent records with five bonus point wins out of five.
Techs are the league’s top scorers, but Brixham have the meanest defence.
It should be an interesting clash and Techs feel it will be a chance to see just where they stand.
“We’re all excited to be playing up there and it’s a chance to see where we are,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith.
“Last week playing Marjons in the cup was a good test, but this is going to be another step up.
“We are going away from home and they will have a good crowd, but I do think our players are excited about it.
“There is still a long, long way to go in the season. Whether we win, lose or draw this weekend, it’s not going to decide the season.
“But it is a game that if you win would build confidence.
“We just want to make sure we give a good account of ourselves.
“We went up there last season and won, so we know we can do it, although it was a really tight game and both teams will probably be a lot different.”
Techs are without Ben Hockey, Connor McQueen and Sion Noville, who played against Marjons last weekend, but they should have Billy Evans, Will Booth, Ben Wheatley, Harley Adams and Neil Harmes back in contention.
There is a Plymouth derby match at Horsham Fields where Plymstock Oaks II host Plympton Victoria.
The two sides sit next two each other in the table, but Oaks have won two more games than Plym Vic, who are still waiting for their first victory of the season.
Plym Vic have not played since October 19 due to blank weekends.
“We are looking forward to it,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt. “We’ve had a bit of time off the pitch, but we are keen to get amongst it again.
“We have a full squad and again have had to disappoint some players.”
Third-placed Ivybridge II make the trip to Torquay Athletic II hoping to bounce back from their defeat to Brixham II in their last outing.
Ivybridge II are able to name a strong side for the match, which includes Wes Vermigle, Seb Musgrave and Jack Skinner.
In Counties Three Cornwall, sixth-placed Saltash II face a tough trip west to take on unbeaten second-placed Camborne II.