DEVONPORT Services will be desperately hoping they can pick up some vital points this weekend when they visit fellow strugglers Exeter University.

Services are 11 points behind the third-from-bottom students, who they need to try and chase down if they want to stay in National Two West.

“We do need some points this weekend,” admitted Devonport head coach Ben Russell.

“We now have two really big games either side of Christmas – Exeter University away and Old Reds at home.”

Exeter University started the season fielding many of their BUCS players and they were unbeaten in their opening three games, including beating Services 59-19.

But they have only won two games since and have found themselves falling down the table.

Both sides are likely to be much-changed since that meeting in September.

Services are even likely to be significantly different to last week, with Henry Gliddon, Richard West, Bertie Fordham, Cam Donkin and possibly Dylan Daley unavailable.

Devonport already have James Hocking, Mike Rickard, Mark Friend, Harrison Coonick, Toby Knowles and Kieran Down on the sidelines.

However, they are set to welcome back George Pooley and Billy Orchard this weekend, while Kyle Felton could make his return from injury in the second team.

“We do have loads of boys away,” said Russell. “So, we will be a much-changed team but everyone who is playing has played in the ones this year.”

Russell says his team have already moved on from last week’s 70-7 home defeat by league leaders Camborne.

“We have put Camborne to bed,” he said. “It is done and dusted now. They were just very clinical.

“I have watched the video back and we actually attacked and had the ball more, but they were just very, very clinical when they got the ball.

“We didn’t play that badly, but our defence could have been better.

“We just have to try and be better than last week.”

REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST

RELGATION-threatened Ivybridge will have double motivation to try and claim a much-needed win against ninth-placed Royal Wootton Bassett at home on Saturday.

Not only do they desperately need the points to close the gap on the teams above them, but they will also have a point to prove against the Wiltshire side who beat them 78-8 at their place in September.

Since that big victory, Royal Wootton Bassett have only won three more games, and they have only triumphed once on their travels this season.

However, they did beat Exmouth at home last weekend and are 13 points ahead of Ivybridge.

“We could be a banana skin for them,” said Ivybridge team manager Neil Thomson.

“They might think that as they put 70 points on us before that they might win easy and have a good sing-song on the journey home.”

Having to make the long trip to Devon on Christmas Saturday is probably not ideal for the Wiltshire side.

But even though Ivybridge are at home, they are still missing players again.

Yet they did take plenty of positives from last week’s display away at Sidmouth.

“Having only won two matches it is getting hard,” admitted Thomson. “But it was a much better performance last week. There were a lot of positives.”

COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST

SECOND-placed Plymstock Oaks face a tough Christmas Saturday trip down to west Cornwall to take on Redruth II.

A visit to the Recreation Ground at any time of the year is always a challenge, but having to make that journey with a number of players away due to the holiday season does make it harder.

“It is going to be a challenge as we are going to be missing a few lads,” said head coach Lewis Paterson. “But it will be a good test of character.”

Redruth II sit in seventh place in the table, but they have only lost once at home – last Saturday to leaders Paignton.

Oaks, though, will take some confidence from beating the young Reds 63-17 at home in September.

“It is a nice pitch down there,” said Paterson. “And Paignton won there last week.

“They will be a good side and going to Redruth will also be a challenge, but if we could get a result that would be massive for us.”

Oaks are 10 points behind leaders Paignton after 12 games.

“We just have to do what we can do,” said Paterson. “It is theirs to slip, but we were in that position last year.”

At the other end of the table, second-from-bottom Tavistock will be looking for a vital victory against basement side Bideford.

Bideford have yet to win a game this season, but their results have picked up in recent weeks.

Tavistock will be desperate for a win after suffering two really heavy defeats to Barnstaple II and Paignton.

They also need to try and close the gap on Penryn, Bude and St Ives, who are just above them in the table.

However, Tavistock are really struggling to get a side out to make the trip to King George’s Field.

“We are waiting on a few late calls,” said captain and player-coach Hammy Kerswill.

COUNTIES TWO DEVON

IT is derby day in Counties Two Devon with OPMs hosting Tamar Saracens and Plymouth Argaum entertaining Devonport Services II.

If past form is anything to go by, then a close game is expected at King George V Playing Fields between OPMs and Sarries, who both have pretty similar records this season.

Sarries do sit in seventh spot, four points and two places above the Old Boys but the Ernesettle club have played a game more.

When the sides met at the Parkway at the start of the season Sarries edged out OPMs 15-14 thanks to an injury-time penalty from Rob Hall.

“It was such a tight game,” said Sarries head coach Mike Lewis.

“We both did well in the set-piece and in the middle of the park but both of us didn’t do well enough at all of it. It was a bit of a strange game.

“It was one of those games where we apologised to each other afterwards and said we would get it sorted for the next time.”

Like most teams this weekend, Sarries are missing a number of players for Saturday’s match.

“Most of our military lads are going home, a few other boys have other things planned and we picked up a few injuries last week,” said Lewis.

“But we will have a team and hopefully a good enough one to win the game.”

He added: “By all accounts they did really well against Services last week before it was called off.

“I think they are on a bit of a high and they are quite consistent, so I think it will be a tough test for us on Saturday.”

OPMs team manager Shaun Grundy added: “It was obviously a close fixture the last time around, but a disappointing one.

“I think the back of last weekend, we will be going into it all guns blazing.

“It’s VPs day for us so we have first team and second team games and a Christmas evening, so it is a big day for us.”

OPMs were drawing 12-12 with Devonport Services II last weekend and just about to score a try when the referee was injured resulting in the game getting abandoned.

They felt there were plenty of positives from their performance which they hope they can take into Saturday’s contest.

Services II are likely to be much-changed for their trip to Roborough to take on Plymouth Argaum, who last week could not get a side out against Withycombe.

All sides are struggling a bit this weekend with player availability. Services II expect to be missing at least seven of last week’s side.

“There is a load away for the twos so we are going to be very under-strength, but it is what it is” said Services head coach Ben Russell.

Yet they do hope to welcome back lock Kyle Felton after a lengthy period on the sidelines.

Argaum do feel if they can field a strong squad then they do have a chance.

“We have quite a good record against Devonport Services; we’ve normally always come away with something,” said Argaum head coach Dean Avery.

“If we can get a good team out, then it is a winnable game.”

Last year’s match between the sides at Bickleigh Down saw a dramatic ending with Services II scoring two last-gasp converted tries to win 14-12.

COUNTIES THREE

SECOND-placed Old Techs face a big match on Saturday when they travel to fourth-placed Salcombe in Devon South & West.

Techs sit level on points with leaders Ivybridge II and have only lost once all season.

But they know that Salcombe will pose a major threat to them as on their day the Crabs have proved they can beat anyone in the league.

“They showed that by going away and beating Brixham,” said Old Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith.

“So, we know what they can do.

“It has always been a tough place to go. They are a hard team to beat at home.

“But we have pretty good availability for this time of year. You are always going to have players unavailable even if it’s not Christmas, but considering we are away at Salcombe on December 21 our availability is good. You can’t fault the lads’ commitment.

“We are taking a coach up and making it our Christmas outing. I think we have got few old boys who are going up as well.

“Hopefully, we can go up there and get a win.”

Last year’s meeting between Techs and Salcombe were both decided by one score, with Salcombe edging it 27-26 at their place and Techs winning 12-8 at Weston Mill.

Techs did beat them 60-20 at home at the start of this season, but Salcombe are likely to have a different side to that day. After that loss, the Crabs went on a six-game winning run that was only ended by leaders Ivybridge II last weekend.

Ivybridge II will be big favourites to pick up another win when they travel to seventh-placed Totnes.

When the sides met in September, the Bridgers second string triumphed 90-12.

Totnes have won three games since, but all their wins have come against teams below them.

Second-from-bottom Plymstock Oaks II face a tough test when they host third-placed Brixham II, who have only lost one game all season.

Oaks II have been struggling for availability all season and when they played Brixham II at the start of the season they were beaten 109-0 with a young side.

Plympton Victoria are not in action this weekend but their second team is going to play OPM Jesters at King George V Playing Fields.