DEVONPORT Services know they really could do with a home win over fourth-placed Cinderford on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of catching the teams above them.
Services are 12 points adrift at the foot of the National Two West table, but they have been encouraged by their opening two performances of 2025.
They came within seconds of beating Old Redcliffians at home in their opening game of the new year, before conceding a converted try with the last play of the game to lose 26-20, and then last weekend they also had chances to beat top five side Luctonians away but narrowly lost 12-5.
Services head coach Ben Russell acknowledged those performances have given them some confidence but added: “The sad thing about the last couple of weeks is that we should have actually won those games. They were ours for the taking and we had the opportunities.
“Last week we created so much to win the game, but we just didn’t take the right opportunities.
“It was a bit gut-wrenching last week and the week before. If we had got those wins we would have only been two or three points behind Macclesfield.
“But the boys are learning, and they have been much better performances in the last two weeks. We have improved a lot.
“We have gone back to playing ‘our’ rugby again after losing a bit of confidence.
“But it will be another tough one this weekend. They (Cinderford) lost last week and they want to stay in touching distance at the top.
“Every week for us it is getting harder and harder.”
He added: “When we went to Cinderford back in October time, they were very good and strong.
“In the first half we really battled and had them on the ropes just before half-time and I think we went in just five points down, but in the second half we just dropped off too many tackles and they ran away with it in the end (winning 44-26). However, we did get a bonus point.”
Services are forced to make changes to their side from the one that pushed Luctonians hard last weekend.
Scrum-half Dan Goldstone is away, while James Hocking is injured and Billy Orchard will need a late fitness test.
With backs Dylan Daley, Henry Gliddon, Harrison Coonick, Toby Knowles, Matt Neyle, Kieran Down, Ben Callard and Dylan Harbour also still out, Billy Sutton is likely to start at nine, with Jack Ryder possibly getting the chance to make his first team debut.
In the forwards, Joe Stansfield, Mark Friend and Mike Rickard are still out, so Kyle Felton is likely to come into the starting line-up, with captain Matt Gregory returning to number eight.
“It would be lovely to have a full strength squad going into the last 10 league games,” said Russell. “But we haven’t and it’s been the same all year. We just have to keep on battling and fighting.”
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
STRUGGLING Tavistock admit they ‘have nothing to lose’ on Saturday when they host in-form Pirates Amateurs at Sandy Park in Western West.
The Pirates could move to the top of the table, if they were to win this weekend, while Tavistock, who got their third win of the season last Saturday against St Ives, could move out of the bottom two if they could cause an upset.
“It’s difficult on a rearranged weekend to know what you are up against,” said Tavistock player-coach Hammy Kerswill. “But that being said, Pirates look a very complete outfit again this year.
“If we can get anything from the game it will be a huge bonus against the form side in the league.
“It will be a challenge, but we have nothing to lose as not many have had a look in against them this season.”
Tavistock will be missing Joe Burbage, which Kerswill admitted was a ‘real shame’, but they are set to welcome back Jack Osborne to the pack.
They are also waiting to find out if Andrew Schuttkacker will be available.
Plymstock Oaks are not in action this weekend.
COUNTIES TWO
SALTASH could increase their lead at the top of Counties Two Cornwall to 15 points this weekend if they can beat Wadebridge II at home.
The Ashes have put themselves in a great position to finally lift the title after two years of narrowly missing out after wins over Helston, Perranporth and Falmouth this month.
They now just need four bonus point wins from their last seven matches to seal promotion.
But no-one at Moorlands Lane is getting carried away yet.
“In this league, with only one up, you just can’t afford to take anything for granted or take your foot off the gas at any moment,” said director of rugby Steve Down.
“This is a re-arranged game and it was supposed to be an ‘off-week’ so you don’t know what type of team they might bring.
“They (Wadebridge) can pull from a reasonable squad of players. We have seen this type of thing happen before so we certainly won’t take them for granted.
In Counties Two Devon, Tamar Saracens know they will be big underdogs when they visit unbeaten leaders Torquay Athletic.
Sarries are on a seven-game losing run, while Torquay have not dropped a single point yet.
“We just have to play a game of rugby, and that’s it,” said Saracens head coach Mike Lewis.
“They might not be in the best of shapes as it was supposed to be a free weekend for everybody, however, they have a bit more depth than us with a full youth section and a couple of teams that play in the league.
“We are always optimistic, but we are also realistic in terms of what the expectations are this weekend.
“We just need to go up there and do ourselves proud.
“We have to be positive. We have to realise that we have a good scrum, our maul is pretty decent, our forward play is pretty good, and we have some exciting backs. We have also been working quite hard in the last two weeks on our defence, in terms of our shape and our execution of tackles.
We have to really think about how we can play our game plan. I don’t know if there is an ideal rugby equivalent of the long ball, but maybe we just try and keep the ball.”
Sarries are missing a number of players and they have not ruled out handed some debuts against Torquay.
Fellow strugglers Plymouth Argaum also have a tough test when they visit second-placed Honiton.
Despite winning two of their last three games, Argaum dropped to the bottom of the table last Saturday when they went down 40-32 away at South Molton.
Just five points now separate the bottom five teams in the league.
“Every game now is a cup final really,” said Argaum head coach Dean Avery.
“We really need to try and pick some points up in the next two games as we have a really tough February and March.
“Hopefully we will be travelling strong.
“There is a positive feel around the club at the moment, but we do need to catch that group of teams above us.”
OPMs and Devonport Services are also on their travels this weekend.
OPMs, who got a vital win against Dartmouth last Saturday, face a tricky trip to fifth-placed Withycombe.
“It will be a challenge for us, but I think we have boys that can get the job done,” said OPMs captain Fred Smale.
OPMs narrowly lost 19-10 on their last visit to Raleigh Park, while they won the last meeting between the sides 40-0. However, Withycombe have improved since last season and have won eight of their last nine games, including beating Tamar Saracens and Devonport Services II in their last two home games.
Third-placed Services II are struggling a bit for backs for their tricky trip to fourth-placed Exeter Saracens this weekend.
They are also set to be without second-row Al Thomas, but they are hopeful of fielding a strong pack for the trip to Exhibition Fields.
Exeter Saracens are known for their good home form and Services II did lose there last season.
Sarries have only lost one of their last seven games – a 36-11 defeat at Torquay last week – but they did draw their last home game with Topsham II.
COUNTIES THREE
THE big game in Counties Three Devon South & West comes at Weston Mill where third-placed Old Techs host leaders Ivybridge II in a rearranged game.
The original match had to be abandoned just before half-time when a tree fell down. At the time, Techs were leading 7-5.
But Techs will be facing a much different Ivybridge II side this time around, with only six of the team that started that previous game in December, set to line-up this weekend.
Ivybridge, who do not have a first team game this Saturday, have named the likes of Dan Gloyns, Hamish Harris, Wes Vermigle and Owen Garner in their side, along with fellow experienced players like Seb Musgrave and Alex Garner.
Nearly all of the Ivybridge II have tasted first team rugby at some point, so Techs know it will be a tough game, but it is one they need to try and win if they want to stay in the fight for the title.
“It’s another tough game,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith.
“It was 7-5 to us just before half-time when the last game was abandoned, but it could be a completely different side that they have out and we have out.
“We know it is an important game, especially after our loss to Paignton II last time out, but it’s also an important game for Ivybridge.
“It is one we have to try and win to keep us in it.”
He added: “We can’t concern ourselves with what Ivybridge do. Hopefully, they do put out a genuine second team, but we just have to control what we can control, like our patterns of play.
“We can’t worry about what Ivybridge are doing. We just have to play what is in front of us.”
Techs will be missing Nathan Webb after he suffered a serious knee injury last weekend. Ben Hockey is away, while they are waiting on the fitness of Billy Evans, who missed their game at Paignton due to injury.
In the same division, Plympton Victoria will host bottom side Kingsbridge II at St Mary’s Field.
Kingsbridge II have not been able to field a side for their last three games and have handed out five walkovers this season, but they have told Plym Vic that they do have a team this weekend.
Plym Vic had lined up a possible cup game against the Medics if Kingsbridge could not raise a side, but they have not needed to put their fall-back plan in action.
Kingsbridge II have beaten Plym Vic in their last two meetings, but the Plympton side will be looking to put that right this weekend and move out of the bottom two.
Fellow strugglers Plymstock Oaks II are due to visit Paignton II. Neither club have a first team game this weekend, so both could be strong.