DEVONPORT Services will be looking to claim another much-needed home win on Saturday when they host Loughborough University at the Rectory in National Two West (2.30pm).
Services remain at the foot of the table after their promotion from Regional One South West, but they boosted their hopes of closing the gap on the teams above them by beating Redruth in their last home fixture.
Although they were unable to shock high-flying Taunton Titans away last weekend, they will be more confident of turning the tables on seventh-placed Loughborough, who have yet to win on their travels this season.
“If we want to stay in this league, then we have to start getting our home form right,” said Services head coach Ben Russell. “We did it two weeks ago against Redruth and we have to try and do it again.
“It is a big one this week. They are obviously a very good side with some good players who just keep on going and going. They are like Exeter University, they have 50 or 60 players who are signed up and probably all want to make it.
“They are all young and quick and they are very good on their own patch, where they play on 4G, but we just have to front up.
“We got Loughborough, Hornets, Camborne and Exeter University before Christmas. Camborne at home will be hard as they are flying and would be doing okay at National One, but we have to try and pick up a couple of wins or hopefully get 10 points as then we are in the mix with more home games against teams we can potentially beat.”
He added: “But there’s a lot of learning from last weekend. We did have them (Taunton) in trouble in the first half, but the difference was they executed and we didn’t finish off.”
The weather forecast is not great for the weekend, with Storm Bert due to hit on Saturday, but Russell is hoping his team can embrace any difficult conditions.
“We have been very lucky as we have got through until November and I don’t think we have played a game where it has actually rained,” said Russell.
“Hopefully, there will be a good crowd, but it could be dependent on the weather.”
Services are set to stick with the same 20 players that travel to Taunton last weekend, with Kyle Felton and Billy Orchard still not fit after picking up injuries against Redruth. They join the likes of Mike Rickard, Mark Friend, Harrison Coonick, Dylan Daley, Toby Knowles and Kieran Down on the injury list.
Services’ twos are also in action on Saturday when they host Tiverton in the Devon 2nd XV Cup at Stonehouse Creek (1pm).
Devonport’s second team are missing quite a few players ahead of next week’s top-of-the-table league clash with Torquay Athletic at the Rectory.
Also in the Devon 2nd XV Cup, Plymstock Oaks are due to host Crediton at Horsham Fields.
Counties Two Cornwall leaders Saltash were due to host bottom side Veor at Moorlands Lane on Saturday, but the Camborne-based club have given them a walkover.
Veor have yet to win a game and last weekend could not field a side at home to Helston. They have now handed out four walkovers this season, including against Saltash in September.
The walkover means Saltash’s lead at the top has been extended to 14 points, although they have played a game more.
“We are in a good spot,” admitted director of rugby Steve Down. “We are playing well and have strength in depth in most positions now. It is starting to click and we are where we should have been two years ago really.”
Down admits it is not easy in a league where just one slip up can prove costly and where the standard of opposition can vary considerably each week.
“It’s difficult to emotionally get it right every week,” he said.
“We know the gap we have got can easily get swallowed up, but if we can have a strong January that would put us in a really good position as I think we are playing most of the top four teams then.”
Saltash II are also due to be in action on Saturday when they visit Roseland in Counties Three Cornwall.
The Ashes’ second team sit in sixth place in the division, 10 points ahead of Roseland.