IVYBRIDGE face possibly their biggest game of the season on Saturday when they host fellow strugglers Chew Valley at Cross-in-Hand in Regional One South West.
The sides sit in the bottom two spots, with Ivybridge currently lying at the foot of the table and Chew Valley just a point above them in the other relegation place.
Ivybridge know they really need to win on Saturday to give themselves hope of getting out of the drop zone with matches fast running out.
After this weekend, the Bridgers will only have five more matches, although three of them will be against bottom half sides.
“The next eight weeks are massive for us,” admitted head coach Davy McGregor.
“A lot of boys have put a lot into training these last couple of weeks as they know how big this game is.
“Chew Valley getting a result against Exmouth (last time out) has put us on the back foot a bit, but we can only look up.”
Ivybridge beat the title-chasing Barnstaple in their last home game, but were well beaten at Brixham in their last outing.
“We knew what the pressure was going to be going up to Brixham,” said McGregor. “But we just let ourselves down after such a great performance against Barnstaple.
“However, we are back at home and we are a different kettle of fish at home
“There’s a lot of boys up for the jersey and there is a lot of competition in training, which is great.
“Chew Valley have got a couple of results under their belt now. I believe they have got a few lads back, but we can only put our best foot forward.”
Ivybridge have named experienced forwards Matt Finn, Wes Vimigle and George Wilson in their starting line-up to face Chew. Tom Hancocks and Jack Skinner also come into the pack from the side that was well beaten at Brixham.
In the backs, Reece de Jersey and Toby Evans will start in the centre, with Charlie Teague also coming in to the starting line-up on the wing.
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
FOURTH-placed Plymstock Oaks face a tough trip to north Devon this weekend to take on third-placed Barnstaple II.
The teams played out a good match at Horsham Fields back in October, with Oaks narrowly winning 30-25.
Since then Barnstaple II have been on a really good run of form and have won their last seven matches, including beating Paignton 33-19 away.
“It will be a hard place to go, but we are looking forward to this weekend off the back of two positive weeks,” said Oaks’ Sean Cook.
“We’ve got a few injuries at present, but we have managed to get what we think will be a strong side to go to Barnstaple.
“We have our usual players, with some experienced players stepping up from the seconds.”
Tavistock are also heading north this Saturday for a big fixture as they travel to fellow strugglers Bude.
Tavistock really could do with a win to move out of the bottom two and close the gap on Bude, who are currently fourth from bottom. The north Cornwall club are eight points ahead of Tavistock, but they have played a game more.
Tavistock narrowly lost 34-30 to Bude at home in October.
“We should have won at home,” said Tavistock player-coach Hammy Kerswill. “But a high penalty count in the middle of the park allowed them to get into our half too often.
“They always turn it on at their place against us. We’ve not won there in a long time.”
Tavistock are missing backs Ethan Lamerton, Charles Bowden and Jack Rocks and forwards Jack Osborne and Josh Langton, but they are able to welcome back Andrew Schuttkacker, Jack Glover and Liam Watts, who has been out with injury since October.
Watts is not fully fit yet but has been deemed fit enough to be named on the bench.
Martin Budden is set to start in the backs due to injuries, while Harry Ball and Ollie Plummer come in on the wings.
“We are riddled with injuries,” said Kerswill. “But we have got a few out of the woodwork.”
COUNTIES TWO
PLYMOUTH Argaum and Tamar Saracens have vital matches in Counties Two Devon as they try to escape the bottom three.
Basement side Argaum host eighth-placed Dartmouth at Bickleigh Down this weekend, while third-from-bottom Sarries entertain second-from-bottom Exmouth II.
Both Argaum and Sarries know they need to make home advantage count and pick up vital wins in a tight bottom half of the table.
“You look at where we are going to pick up points and this week is absolutely crucial,” said Argaum head coach Dean Avery.
“After this game, we have the likes of Topsham away, Torquay at home, Exeter Saracens away and Honiton at home, so we have a really difficult run-in through February and March before having OPMs in the last game of the season.
“We need to try and win this weekend and then make sure we travel as strong as we can and try to pick up bonus points and maybe the odd win so that we can hopefully take it to the last game of the season.
“It will be interesting for me to see if the boys want to travel to the likes of Topsham and Exeter Saracens. Availability for those game could be telling.
“I think other teams will be the same – the ones that travel away strong will be the ones that stay in the league.”
Argaum do owe Dartmouth a result after losing 60-26 to them in October.
“We went to Dartmouth earlier in the season and lost by about 60 points,” said Avery. “But we had an awful lot of injuries and ended up down to 12 men. We need to try and make amends for that.
“It looks like we have good availability, so it looks like the players want this.”
After a good start to the season, Sarries have dropped down the table after losing their last eight games.
Their know this weekend is a big match for them.
“It’s a bigger game than it should be really,” said Saracens head coach Mike Lewis. “We should have won three or four more games this season and so we shouldn’t be in this position, but we are.
“We have great availability this weekend and we are at home. It is one where we have prepared well for.
“Our results in the last three games have been far from ideal, however, in training there has definitely been progression, even if results haven’t suggested that.
“Players have been focusing and really working hard on bits and pieces.”
He added: “Our position does create a bit of pressure and something to play for. It is something we shouldn’t be having to deal with, however, it makes it a bit more exciting for everyone!
“Whatever side Exmouth bring down, we just have to play our own game and make sure we play like the home team.”
OPMs have pulled clear of the bottom three slightly in the last couple of weeks with away victories over Dartmouth and Withycombe, but they now have a tough sequence of games, starting with a home match against Topsham II on Saturday.
They then play Devonport Services II, Torquay, Exeter Saracens, Honiton and Withycombe before ending with a home game against Argaum.
But they do have some breathing space after the last couple of weeks.
“Last weekend was a crucial win,” admitted OPMs team manager Shaun Grundy.
Grundy admits they have got some confidence from picking up points away at Withycombe and Dartmouth and they also beat Topsham II 31-29 away in October.
“We beat Topsham away so there is a spark of confidence there, especially coming off the back of two wins. It means we have everything to play for,” said Grundy.
Argaum, Sarries and OPMs will all be hoping Devonport Services II do them a favour and beat South Molton at Keyham on Saturday.
South Molton are fourth from bottom and just one point ahead of Sarries and six in front of Argaum.
Services II sit in third place and have only lost two games all season.
Devonport should be stronger than they have been in recent weeks with a number of players returning and no first team fixture to worry about.
They are still keen to finish in the top two, but they will not be expecting an easy game against South Molton, who have pushed them hard in their last three meetings.
Earlier this season, Services did win 43-25 away, but last season’s fixture both were decided by one score, with Devonport losing 14-10 away and winning 13-10 at home.
In Counties Two Cornwall, Saltash will be looking to take another step towards the title when they visit St Austell II.
The Ashes need 16 points from their last six matches to be confirmed as champions after two years narrowly missing out.
But this weekend does have the potential to be a banana skin for them, despite St Austell’s lowly position in the table.
The Saints are third from bottom, but their first team’s results have picked up greatly in recent weeks and Saltash know their second team could be strong on the day.
In the same division, eighth-placed Liskeard-Looe will be hoping to move up the table when they visit seventh-placed St Just on Saturday. Just two points separate the teams in the standings.
COUNTIES THREE
FOR the second week running, Ivybridge II face a top-of-the-table clash in Devon South & West.
The Bridgers opened up a gap at the top last weekend by edging out Old Techs 24-17 in a great battle at Weston Mill.
This Saturday, they visit their other title rivals, Brixham II, who could leap-frog above them if they were to win.
“It is a massive game,” said Ivybridge skills coach Steve Atkinson. “The club have two big games.
“I think Brixham have an old boys’ dinner so there should be a great turnout for the game.”
Ivybridge have made no secret of their desire to try and get their seconds back into Counties II.
“We have plans in place and we want to try and get out of this league as quick as we can,” added Atkinson.
Head coach Davy McGregor was at Weston Mill last weekend to watch the seconds just edge out Old Techs.
“It was nice to get down and see the Vandals as I don’t normally get to see them,” said McGregor. “It makes people feel like they are in the mix and you can speak to them about their performance and where they need to get to for the first team.”
Wes Vermigle and Reece de Jersey have been promoted back to the first team, but Dan Gloyns, Owen Garner and Hamish Harris stay with the Vandals, who are set to hand a debut to Mitieli Caqara at centre.
Second-placed Old Techs have been handed a walkover by Plymstock Oaks II.
It is the fourth walkover Techs have been given since November 30.
“We have only played five games since the start of November,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith.
“That is a three-month period and it does have a knock-on effect. Players are getting frustrated.”
Bedford-Smith is hoping the RFU will look at the situation and particularly the problems with some of the second teams.
It is the fourth walkover Oaks II have given opponents this season, while Kingsbridge II have handed out five. Yet both clubs were able to field teams last week and got wins.
Plympton Victoria, who were the team edged out by Kingsbridge II last weekend, are without a fixture this Saturday.
However, Plymouth Dolphins will be in action at St Mary’s Field on Saturday when they take on Reading Renegades.
In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II will visit Camborne School of Mines.
The Ashes second team did win the corresponding fixture at Moorlands Lane 45-7 earlier in the season.