DEVONPORT Services head coach Ben Russell has told his team ‘they have nothing to lose’ as they make the tough trip to Herefordshire to take on fifth-placed Luctonians.
Bottom side Services have yet to win on their travels this season and they will be big underdogs on Saturday against a side that finished second in the league last season.
“They are a good side,” said Russell. “They just missed out on going up last year.
“The teams currently at the top of the league are those that have been in that league or above for years.
“It would be nice to go up there and get a try-scoring bonus point and if we finish within seven and got two bonus points that would be amazing. But I’m not ruling out going there and beating them. They are a good team, but we have just been lacking a bit of confidence and composure. However, we’ve got nothing to lose and look at Ivybridge beating Barnstaple last week.”
He added: “When we played them last time at home, we came back into the game, yet we didn’t get a bonus point.
“I think we got back to 29-21 and we were on their line, but the referee made a poor call and then they go and score a try and it was taken away from us.”
Services have had a couple of near misses this season, no more so than last week when they were beaten 26-20 by Old Redcliffians, who scored a converted try with the last play of the game deep in injury-time.
“That was a shame,” said Russell. “I went through the video and we just didn’t attack in the second half. We lost composure and our execution was poor. We missed some chances to put the game to bed.
“In the first half we were in their 22 four times and scored three tries, but second half we were in their half on six to eight occasions and we only came away with three points.
“But it was what it was and we have put it to bed.”
Services have Joe Stansfield, Henry Gliddon, Tyler Busfield, Dylan Daley, Ben Callard, Jack Ryder and Luke Stannard unavailable, while Dylan Harbour and Owen Kerswell have joined the likes of Harrison Coonick, Matt Neyle, Kieran Down, Toby Knowles, Mark Friend and Mike Rickard on the injury list.
But they do have young back-rower Bertie Fordham available again, while Kyle Felton and Al Thomas are likely to come on to the bench.
Neyle and Friend are getting close to returning from long-term injuries. Utility back Neyle, who has been out since last season’s Devon Cup final, could possibly get a run-out next week in the second team, according to head coach Russell.
REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST
AFTER shocking Barnstaple at home last Saturday, Ivybridge will be aiming to upset another one of the title-chasing sides, Brixham, this weekend.
The Bridgers will head to the new league leaders boosted by their 43-40 win over Barum, who has previously been at the top of the table.
“I was just really happy for the boys last week as they have worked really hard,” said Ivybridge head coach Davy McGregor.
“We weren’t a million miles away the week before (against Launceston) in terms of performance, but we just weren’t as accurate.
“But we were a different team last week. The challenge is now, how do we back that up?”
Ivybridge, who remain in the relegation places, certainly know that after their result last weekend against Barnstaple, Brixham will not be taking them lightly.
The Fisherman are on an 11-game winning run in the league. They have not lost since surprisingly slipping up 26-22 away at St Austell on September 21.
Their impressive run included a 62-12 win over Ivybridge at Cross-in-Hand in October.
After edging out Exmouth last weekend and with Barnstaple losing, Brixham moved to the top. They are two points ahead of Barnstaple and six in front of Launceston, who do have a game in hand.
McGregor, a former Brixham player, feels the pressure will be on the Fisherman this week.
“At the end of the day, the pressure is on Brixham,” he said. “The prospect of going up isn’t a position they have been in for a few years. They have always been in or around the top, but never actually been at the top really. When you are at the top, it’s about maintaining that.
“From our perspective, we know we are a very young side and a very inexperienced side, but last week we had a bit of consistency and experience in our squad and this week should be the same in terms of consistency.
“One of the things we talked about was maturity. We haven’t had the maturity to make those decisions to make the impact, but now the question is do we have the maturity to back up the performance?
“Last week we were far more accurate, far more passionate about the jeopardy of losing, but I think there was also an element of clarity and intent to go out and actually execute what we are working towards. That was a real encouragement to the coaching group.
“What is very important to us is that we back up a performance, whatever happens with the result.
“The one thing I was a bit disappointed about last week was how easily we conceded. We scored 43 points with some real direction and intent, but I think now it is about going out and making sure we have the same kind of intent on the other side of the ball.”
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
THERE is a big match at Horsham Fields where third-placed Plymstock Oaks entertain in-form second-placed side Pirates Amateurs.
The Pirates opened up the title race somewhat last weekend by beating leaders Paignton 18-13 at Mennaye Field.
Oaks will be looking for revenge after losing 50-3 down in Cornwall in October.
“We know the Pirates are on a bit of a run since they beat us,” said Oaks head coach Lewis Paterson. “But we know if we can get a good squad we are a dangerous side.
“We will be up for it. We will remember how they exploited us and I think there are a lot of lads hungry to get one back on them.”
Oaks did beat the Pirates 42-27 on the Cornish club’s last visit to Horsham Fields.
Struggling Tavistock are also taking on Cornish opponents this weekend as they host St Ives at Sandy Park in a crucial fixture.
Tavistock are second-from-bottom and St Ives sit just one place and six points above them in the standings.
Tavistock really could do with a win to close that gap.
When the sides met in Cornwall in October, St Ives won 36-14.
“We travelled to St Ives a little light and struggled up front,” said player-coach Hammy Kerswill. “But hopefully having a more settled pack will get us on the front foot to enjoy some possession.”
Tavistock are missing Calum Baker and Sam Palmer in the pack, but they do welcome back the experienced Andrew Schuttkacker at number eight.
Charlie Bowden and Freddie Fuller are set to line-up in the half-back roles with Ethan Lamerton and Jack Rock in the centres.
Former junior Tom Burgess is set to make his debut on the wing after returning to the club for their Boxing Day run-out and impressing.
Harry Ball is also set to be named on the bench after catching the eye playing for the seconds a couple of weeks ago.
COUNTIES TWO
SALTASH could take a giant step towards winning the Counties Two Cornwall title this weekend, if they can beat second-placed Helston at Moorlands Lane.
The Ashes are 10 points clear of their rivals and so if they could extend that to 15 points then it would be very hard for anyone to catch them in the final couple of months of the season.
Helston have only lost once this campaign – a 32-17 defeat by Saltash in October.
The Ashes will not be taken them lightly, especially after their tough game away at Perranporth last weekend, where they had to come from 15-0 down at half-time before triumphing 26-15 to keep their season-long unbeaten run going.
In Counties Two Devon, Plymouth Argaum will be hoping to keep their unbeaten run going in 2025 and move out of the bottom two this weekend when they travel to fellow strugglers South Molton.
Argaum have made an encouraging start to the new year with victories over Tamar Saracens and Exmouth II.
They are now only four points behind Exmouth II and Dartmouth, who sit in the ninth and 10th spots.
But they know it won’t be easy away at bottom side South Molton, who last weekend beat OPMs away.
“This week is massive,” said Argaum head coach Dean Avery. “We have struggled with availability going on the road and we are going to have some people missing but there is depth in this squad. It’s just about trying to get the boys together and on the pitch.”
“Hopefully, we can go up there and get a result.”
After back-to-back victories, Argaum are now believing they can stay up.
“I think everyone has to be looking at us now,” said Avery. “It has been a good few weeks for us since Christmas and we do fancy ourselves to stay up.
“The guys have set targets and we want to get another two wins and bonus points from our next four games. I think if we can achieve that we will be almost mid-table.
“If you look at where we are now – there are no excuses that we didn’t travel to Withycombe – but if we had we wouldn’t be where we are. We would be on 21 points, which would almost be mid-table.”
Among those likely to be missing for Argaum this weekend are Tom Worboys, Adam McCrohan, Adam Walker, Kieran Burring and Charles Over.
Eighth-placed OPMs also have a big game this weekend as they visit third-from-bottom Dartmouth.
In a tight table, the teams are separated by just two points and so whoever loses this weekend will be really looking over their shoulders at Argaum and South Molton.
Both OPMs and Dartmouth are looking for their first wins in 2025. Dartmouth have been well beaten by Honiton and Exeter Saracens, while OPMs have been beaten by South Molton (37-24) and Exmouth II (29-20).
The Old Boys will be out for a bit of revenge after Dartmouth beat them 24-15 at King George V Playing Fields in October.
Tamar Saracens are another team looking for their first win of 2025 when they travel to fifth-placed Withycombe.
They narrowly lost to Argaum before they were well beaten by Devonport Services II last weekend on the artificial pitch at Keyham.
That match did come at a heavy cost to them, with Joey Pook suffering a knee injury, Ryan Deacon and Josh Dowding suffering concussions and Frazer Tatchell breaking his nose.
“We had a broken nose and two concussions just from players banging their heads on the 3G pitch,” said head coach Mike Lewis.
“I know it’s not ideal to play on it, but it gets a game played. However, if it is going to be that detrimental to people’s health then I think we might request not to play on it again.”
Pook was the most seriously injured, although is injury was not as bad as first feared, but he is likely to be out for up to five weeks.
Sarries suffered a terrible first half last weekend and were 50-0 down at half-time, but they came back in the second half and the game finished 55-5 to Services II.
“Looking at the video of last Saturday’s game, our defensive shape off the set-piece was quite poor so therefore we were slipping off tackles and when you are slipping off tackles against some of the best players in the league, they are going to punish you,” said Lewis.
“Essentially, in terms of the whole game last Saturday, it wasn’t as bad as maybe the scorelines suggests, however it wasn’t pretty. We know there are some small tweaks we can make going into this Saturday which should mean our defensive shape could be a bit better.”
Sarries know it will be tough at Withycombe, who are known for being much better at home than on their travels.
When the sides met earlier in the season, Withycombe won 22-7.
“I watched the video, and when they came down to us it was quite an even game and we both tried to play a bit of rugby. We had a couple of big ball carriers and so did they,” said Lewis.
“It’s going to be one of those games where if we are on the mettle then we should do all right, but, if not, the last thing we want is another scoreline like last Saturday.”
The league has really closed up in the last couple of weeks and now just six points separate the bottom six sides.
“I said at the start of the season, the top five teams would be decided, but the teams below that could be in any order – anyone could be relegated or anyone could finish sixth,” said Lewis. “Sixth to 12 is anyone’s game. It’s just who wants it the most and who wants to train the most and be there more – that’s the biggest difference.”
At the other end of the table, third-placed Devonport Services II face a tricky trip to Exmouth II, who will be desperately looking for points to pull clear of the bottom two.
Services are struggling for backs across the club this week with Dylan Daley, Ben Callard, Jack Ryder and Luke Stannard unavailable and Dylan Harbour, Owen Kerswell, Harrison Coonick, Matt Neyle, Kieran Down and Toby Knowles injured.
Services II did hammer Exmouth II 83-7 at home earlier this season, but the east Devon side are completely different side at home and Services II did lose on their last trip to the Imperial Ground.
COUNTIES THREE
IVYBRIDGE II will be looking to return to the top of Devon South & West on Saturday when they host struggling Plymstock Oaks II at Cross-in-Hand.
The Bridgers second string sit one point behind Old Techs, who have played a game more and who are not in action this weekend.
Oaks II did move up to third-from-bottom last Saturday after they were handed a walkover by fellow strugglers Kingsbridge II. Both clubs were having problems getting a team out, but Kingsbridge called it first.
Plymstock have confirmed with Ivybridge that they will be making the short trip to Cross-in-Hand this week, but they will be expecting a tough afternoon. Oaks II did hand them a walkover earlier in the season.
Plympton Victoria are also expecting a tough test when they host Paignton II, who last weekend surprised Old Techs.
Paignton II have been inconsistent, but, as they proved last Saturday, they can be very strong some weeks.
“We’ve got no idea what will be coming there,” admitted Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt. “But we’ll just have to see.”
When the sides met at Queen’s Park earlier in the season, Paignton II triumphed 56-8.
In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II will now visit St Agnes after the league was reorganised after a host of walkovers and Camborne II’s title success.
A new league removing champions Camborne II, who will now fill the fixtures of Veor in Counties Two on a friendly basis, and the bottom half teams of Falmouth II, Bude II, Redruth Albany, Lankelly-Fowey, Truro II and Penryn II has been created, with promotion up for grabs.
Results already achieved against the sides now in the league count, so Launceston II sit top, 11 points ahead of St Agnes. Saltash II are fifth.