DEVONPORT Services will be looking to continue their recent good run of form when they head over the Tamar to take on fifth-placed Redruth away.
Bottom side Services have picked up five-point wins in their last two matches and also picked up an away bonus point at title-chasing Clifton to close the gap on the sides above them with six games to go.
Devonport know they have to try and win at least half their remaining games and pick up points elsewhere to try and escape the drop.
“We have to win three games to give ourselves a chance and if we win four that might be enough,” admitted Services head coach Ben Russell.
“I think we have to try and target every game now.”
Russell knows it will not be easy against a Redruth side who have really picked up in form since Services beat them at the start of November at the Rectory.
Redruth’s home form has been key to their rise up the table in the last four months. They have not lost at the Recreation Ground since Clifton beat them at the end of October, while Services have not yet won away.
“They are a good, well-backed club who have been in this league for years,” said Russell.
“It is going to be a tough one.
“They won’t have been very happy that we beat them last time.
“I’m sure that will be mentioned, and they will come out throwing the kitchen sink at us. We just have to try and put some water on the fire.”
He added: “We just have to try and give ourselves the best chance by keep playing our rugby.
“If we don’t win, if we can come away with a bonus point or two rather than nothing at all, then at least we are keeping the points ticking over.”
Services are going to have to make changes to their backline with fly-half Richard West and winger Charlie Groves unavailable this weekend.
Fellow backs Billy Sutton, Jack Ryder, Henry Gliddon, Luke Stannard and Ben Callard are also not available, while Harrison Coonick and Toby Knowles are still out with long-term injuries.
But fit-again Matt Neyle is set to come in and make his first National League start after coming on as a replacement last weekend, while Tom Richards could also return to the side.
Services have signed former Ivybridge and Plymouth Albion back Dan Lilley, but he is not available for the next couple of weeks due to work.
The Devonport pack is likely to be the same as last week.
Flanker James Hocking has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, while fellow back-rower Joe Stansfield has gone to Australia.
REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE’S 10-year spell at level five will come to an end on Saturday, unless they pick up a full five points against fellow strugglers Marlborough at Cross-in-Hand.
However, even if they did pick up a bonus-point win and deny their Wiltshire visitors any points, bottom side Ivybridge will still be relegated if third-from-bottom Chew Valley pick up any points at home to Matson.
The Bridgers have known relegation has been on the cards for months after picking up only three wins all season, but they have somehow managed to delay it to the final three games.
“If we go down, we have to look at re-building with Spencer Owen as director of rugby,” said team manager Neil Thomson. “He’s got plans and everyone just has to support him as well as we can.”
However, the long-serving Thomson has decided to step down from his role as team manager. He was upset recently after being handed a five-week ban for speaking to a referee after a game.
He has written a letter to all the players and club committee.
In it he said: “For 34 years I have had a fulfilling experience working in many roles at Ivybridge RFC. As I serve the last week of my suspension and get closer to reaching 66 years of age, (state pension age), I have chosen to leave now to pursue an opportunity to travel with my wife a bit more, something we have planned for a long time and something that Jenny well deserves.”
He added: “I would like to take this chance to thank all the senior directors/ committee at Ivybridge RFC for the opportunity you have given me as a player, coach and team manager.
“The biggest thanks goes to all the brilliant players that I had the opportunity to play alongside, coach, manage and overall get to know and become friends and look forward to keeping in touch with all of you.
“I wish you all great success in going forward with your plans at this great club.”
Ivybridge are without Henry Trudgill and Adam Northcott this weekend. Reggie Fulla will start at hooker, while Seb Musgrave comes in at number eight. In the backs, former colt George Vertessy, who is now in the navy, comes in on the wing.
Wes Vermigle, Marcus Prout and Sam Wilmington are named on the bench.
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
STRUGGLING Tavistock will end their home league campaign on Saturday when they host third-placed Paignton at Sandy Park.
All their three wins this season have come at home, but they know it will be tough against a Paignton side that beat them 94-12 away in November.
“Paignton are probably the best team we have played, but we travelled very light that day,” said Tavistock’s player-coach Hammy Kerswill.
“This is our last home game and it is an old boys’ day.”
Second-from-bottom Tavistock are still waiting to confirm their team, but they do hope to have backs Ethan Lamerton and Charles Bowden back, while Jamie Legg and Tom Friend are set to come out of retirement to help out.
Freddie Fuller is set to miss the match with concussion.
Fourth-placed Plymstock Oaks are also at home this weekend when they host mid-table Kingsbridge at Horsham Fields.
Kingsbridge have beaten Oaks in their last two meetings and Plymstock are keen to prove a point.
“We do owe them one,” said Oaks head coach Lewis Paterson.
“This is going to be a big game for us. We want to finish big this year.
“We had a bit of a slip up at St Ives (last week), but we came away with a try bonus point, so we’ll take the positives.”
COUNTIES TWO
SALTASH are determined not to take their foot of the pedal, despite wrapping up the Counties Two Cornwall title last weekend.
The Ashes want to try and go through the entire season unbeaten and with a 100 per cent record.
This weekend they should have been facing probably their toughest remaining test as they were due to host third-placed Newquay Hornets at Moorlands Lane.
However, the match has been cancelled after Newquay handed the Ashes the walkover.
It means they only have to beat Wadebridge II and St Just in their final two games to go through the entire season undefeated.
Their thoughts now are turning to the Papa Johns Cup, Lockie Cup and Cornwall Cup.
“We are also still looking to add things to our game for the cup runs,” said director of rugby Steve Down. “We are still trying things and tweaking things.
“We have a few things we need to tighten up on, but that comes through harder rugby.”
In Counties Two Devon, Tamar Saracens will be desperate to try and pick up some more points when they visit sixth-placed Topsham II.
Sarries got a much-needed win last weekend when they beat Dartmouth 22-7 at home to move out of the bottom three and up to eighth in the standings.
However, on the same weekend, second-from-bottom Exmouth II beat South Molton so there is now only five points separating eighth from 11th.
“Yeah, the pressure is still on,” said Saracens head coach Mike Lewis. “Exmouth getting that result has put everyone back into the mix. That really has put the cat among the pigeons.
“Exmouth have got quite a good run-in, whereas we have quite a tough one – Topsham, Torquay and Exeter Saracens. However, we can only play what is in front of us.
“Topsham II beat Services II away last week so it seems like they are on top of their game at the minute, but we had a good result last week against a strong Dartmouth team, who have been a thorn in our side for a long, long time.
“We were dead happy to win that game.
“We know we just have to do better than the teams around us. We also need to try and pick up bonus points just in case.”
Forwards Adam Coutts and Joey Pook are struggling with injuries, but Joe Staniforth should be pack.
“We should have a strong side as we have plenty to pick from,” added Lewis.
Plymouth Argaum’s relegation could be confirmed this weekend if they lose at high-flying Exeter Saracens or other teams win.
Argaum are 11 points from safety with just three games to go.
“We have some boys missing this week, but I think it is important that we travel and fulfil the fixture,” said Argaum head coach Dean Avery. “Hopefully, we can get something out of it.
“But now it is just about re-grouping and getting ourselves in a position where we can grow as a club again next season.”
Seventh-placed OPMs also have a tough road trip when they visit Honiton on Saturday.
The Old Boys have taken confidence from pushing fellow top four sides Exeter Saracens, Torquay and Devonport Services II in their last three games.
“Yes, it will be a challenging fixture,” said team manager Shaun Grundy. “But we need to take the positives from last week (against Exeter Saracens) and not go into it thinking how we lost a game we should or could have won.
“I will be quite keen to get us there a bit earlier than we usually do and just get the journey out of our legs as it is a long way to go.”
Torquay Athletic will be crowned champions if they beat second-placed Devonport Services II at home on Saturday.
Services II’s hopes of catching the Tics disappeared last weekend when they lost at home to Topsham II.
Torquay now just need one point from their remaining three matches to seal promotion.
Services II will be severely understrength for their visit to the Tics.
Head coach Ben Russell said it was going to be a ‘twos/three’ side.
Among the players not available Yianni Costas, Leighton Stark,Luke Stannard, Ben Callard, Isaiah Akinrowo, Toby Moss, Cam Donkin, Ethan Hilland, and Josh Martin.
COUNTIES THREE
OLD TECHS will be looking to take advantage of Ivybridge II’s blank weekend to move level on points with them at the top of Counties Three Devon South & West.
Second-placed Techs are currently five points behind leaders Ivybridge II, but they could join them on 72 points, if they pick up a bonus-point home win over bottom side Kingsbridge II on Saturday.
If Techs do win this weekend then it will set them up perfectly for a match against Ivybridge II in their next league game.
Both Techs and Ivybridge II will be hoping that Salcombe can also do them a favour this weekend and beat fellow title-chasers Brixham II.
“We are hoping Saturday’s game is on as it is our last home league game of the season,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith.
“It would be nice to get the points on the board this weekend as we know there is still that outside chance there and we just have to keep putting the pressure on.”
Bedford-Smith felt Techs showed their extra strength in depth this season by coming from behind to beat Torquay II away last weekend, despite missing a number of players.
“It was a tricky game,” he said. “I think we would have probably lost that last year, but we have now got that strength in depth.”
Techs are able to welcome back Ollie Davey, Brett Tunnicliffe, Eddie Ramazani, Jon Giles and Neil Harmse, while recent signing Kieran Baldry could make his debut at the weekend.
Techs do have a busy week coming up as after Saturday, they will play Saltash II in the Ellis Trophy at Horsham Fields on Wednesday and then visit Exeter Athletic in the semi-finals of the Devon Junior Cup next weekend.
Also, in Devon South & West this weekend, Plympton Victoria are due to host Torquay Athletic II, while Plymstock Oaks II are set to visit Totnes.
In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II are due to visit already promoted Launceston II.