DEVONPORT Services’ brief stay in National Two West could come to an end this weekend, unless they beat seventh-placed Loughborough Students away.
Macclesfield’s surprise win over Redruth last weekend, coupled with Services’ home loss to Taunton Titans, has left them 15 points from safety with just 20 points left to play for.
“We have to win,” said Devonport Services head coach Ben Russell. “If we don’t, we could be relegated, and we know that.
“We have four games left and we have to win all four, which is a massive ask, but we have shown on our day we can beat anyone.”
Services did beat Loughborough 17-0 at the Rectory in tough weather conditions in November.
“I think Loughborough will be gunning for us as they had never been nilled in their National Two West career,” said Russell.
“On their 4G pitch, and with them having lots of young 20-21-year-olds who want to be the next big thing, they will want to throw the ball around. It will be a tough ask, but we are going to go up there with a game-plan.
“Whatever happens we have done really well. We could have got a couple more wins – some games just went the wrong way – but it has been a massive learning experience for everyone.”
Services are able to welcome back fly-half Richard West and winger Charlie Groves, but they are missing Matt Neyle from last week’s team.
The pack is likely to be the same, meaning teenager Harri Hayman is set to get his second taste of National League rugby.
REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE will be relegated from Regional One South West on Saturday if they do not pick up a full five points away at ninth-placed Lydney.
The Bridgers managed to delay relegation in their last match by beating fellow strugglers Marlborough 45-43, but only the most unlikely set of results can save them now.
They need to pick up 10 points from their remaining two games and hope that Marlborough do not pick up even a bonus point from their last couple of matches.
“We have said it all week in training, it is out of our hands but if we can get a five-point win like we did two Saturdays ago then it would put us in good stead,” said Ivybridge skills coach Steve Atkinson.
“We know it is out of our hands really, but all we can do is hopefully get two wins and see what happens.”
He added: “We are looking forward to going up to Lydney. It’s always a good trip and a good journey back.
“I think last year or the year before we went up there and we were 22-0 up after about 30 minutes but they came back. They have always been a good team to play against.”
It is Ivybridge’s final away game of the season, but they do have to make changes to the team that beat Marlborough two weeks ago.
“We are missing two because they can’t travel as they have work in the evenings, but they will be available for the twos,” said Atkinson.
Hamish Harris and Seb Musgrave, who started against Marlborough, do drop down to the seconds, as does Marcus Prout and Adam Northcott.
Will Peakman is also missing for the first team as they struggle for second-row players. Reggie Fulla, who started at hooker against Marlborough, will line-up in the second-row on Saturday, alongside Dan Gloyns. Joseph Owen is set to make his debut at number eight.
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
STRUGGLING Tavistock have had to admit defeat in their bid to get a team to travel to leaders Pirates Amateurs on Saturday.
The second-from-bottom team have been struggling all season for player availability.
However, they had managed to fulfil their previous 20 matches, but with just two to go, they have been forced to give the Pirates a walkover.
Player-coach Hammy Kerswill did message the Pirates Amateurs chairman on Thursday night as soon as they were aware they could not get 15 players to travel.
In his message he said: “I am personally gutted and very embarrassed as this is the first time in our history this has happened.
“I understand the knock-on effect this has on opposition teams and home revenue and I can only apologise for the impact it has on you guys.
“I have tried and exhausted all sources I have, but we simply do not have enough nor correct personnel to make it worthwhile. Once again, I am truly sorry.”
The five points handed to the Pirates Amateurs means Paignton have to beat fourth-placed Plymstock Oaks at home to take the title race down to the final week.
Paignton know they still have a good shout if they can beat Oaks as the Pirates Amateurs have to play third-placed Barnstaple II in their final match, whereas Paignton have bottom side Bideford.
Oaks know Paignton will be up for Saturday’s match at Queen’s Park, but Plymstock have a point to prove after losing 36-17 at home to them in December.
Oaks are able to name a strong side for the short trip to south Devon. Props Harvey Courtis and Tyrone Hancock return to the starting line-up.
The only personnel change to their backline from the team that enjoyed a big 56-19 victory over Kingsbridge in their last outing, sees Matthew Jackson come in for the unavailable Will Scantlebury. In Scantlebury’s absence, Lewie Riley will move to scrum-half and Jackson will start on the wing, with Corey Jamieson switching to the centre.
Oaks’ second team and colts side are also in action at Paignton on Saturday so the club will be having a mass trip out.
COUNTIES TWO
COUNTIES Two Devon’s bottom side Plymouth Argaum are hoping they can end their home campaign on a high when they host third-placed Honiton on Saturday.
Argaum are certain to finish bottom, but they are set to name one of their strongest sides in months for their final outing at Bickleigh Down.
“We had a week off, but we had a touring side join us last weekend and it was a really good day at the club,” said head coach Dean Avery. “It was a nice break from league rugby for us and it got a lot of old players back and having a runaround.
“It has led into having good availability this week. I think we have about 23 available.
“It is positive in looking towards what we are going to build next season.
“We are likely to be a completely different outfit to what we have been previously.
“And there is no reason with the team we have out that we can’t get something out of the game. It would be nice to get the win.”
Argaum do have some of their Royal Marines back from Norway and they are set to have Tom Worboys, Tom Holliday, Dan Smith, Ryan Neagle and Luke McCreath available.
Third-from-bottom Tamar Saracens also have a tough home test when they welcome unbeaten leaders Torquay Athletic to the Parkway on Saturday.
Sarries need every point they can pick up to try and stay up. They are currently five points ahead of second-from-bottom Exmouth II and four behind ninth-placed Dartmouth.
“Our final two games are at home to Torquay and away to Exeter Saracens, you couldn’t really write a tougher end to the season,” admitted Saracens head coach Mike Lewis.
“When we played Torquay up there for the first 20-30 minutes it was pretty even but eventually their quality just showed. They have some skilful players.
“That game was on a rearranged week so we had players missing and I know the scorelines (85-0) suggests we got beaten by quite a lot, but we actually went up there and the performance itself was quite good. You have to take silver linings from games like that. You have to make sure you look at the positives, rather than just looking at the score.
“We actually did play well and defended well.
“We are obviously better at home. We normally have more depth at home and our pitch sort of lends to our game. Hopefully, the scrum, line-out and maul will look after itself.”
Devonport Services II still have their eyes on securing runners-up spot in the division.
They are currently in pole position for second place, but they will need to pick up points away at fellow top four rivals Exeter Saracens and Honiton in their final two matches.
They make the trip to Exeter Saracens on Saturday, just weeks after beating them 48-14 at Keyham in a game that was switched at the last minute after two previous postponements.
But Services II are struggling for second-rows this week, with Cam Donkin, Mark Friend, Hayden Thomas, Elliot Lupson and Jay Warren all either injured or unavailable.
Services head coach Ben Russell admits it has been a shame the club have had so many injuries this season in their first team as that has impacted their seconds.
“When we have got a full strength team out we have been too strong for sides and we deserved to be in second spot,” he said. “But because of injuries in the ones we have had to take more boys out of the twos.”
Seventh-placed OPMs have the luxury of ending their season with two home matches.
This weekend they host fifth-placed Withycombe at King George V Playing Fields before they will end their league campaign with a home match against Plymouth Argaum on April 5.
The Old Boys have won the last two meetings with Withycombe, including a narrow 10-7 win away in January.
OPMs, who are also in the final of the Devon Junior Bowl, are keen to finish their season strongly. If they could maintain their current position in the table that would be an improvement on last season.
In Counties Two Cornwall, already-crowned champions Saltash are due to play sixth-placed Wadebridge II on Saturday.
The Ashes have just two games to go to try and achieve a 100 per cent season.
So far, they have got a maximum 90 points from 18 games.
The Ashes have not yet faced Wadebridge II as the Camels surprisingly handed them a home walkover in January.
COUNTIES THREE AND ROUND-UP
THE big game in Devon South & West is at Cross-in-Hand where leaders Ivybridge II host second-placed Old Techs.
In a three-horse race for the title, this game will be crucial to deciding who secures promotion.
Ivybridge II and Techs both have 72 points, whereas third-placed Brixham II have 71 points. However, this is Techs’ final league game and so they know they have to win this weekend to have any hope of snatching top spot.
“We have kept with them all season,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith. “We set ourselves a target and whatever happens, we have achieved above it.
“Going up to Ivybridge and playing on the 3G will be tough, but we just have to go up and see what we can do.
“We lost the previous game to them by just one score. After that game we just reflected that we needed to be more clinical. They were clinical and took their chances.”
Techs did pick up a number of injuries in their mid-week cup match against Saltash II and so front-rowers Conor McQueen and Steve Wilkinson are likely to be missing this weekend, but they should have Will Booth, Ben Wheatley and Lewis Harvey back in contention.
Ivybridge have been able to name a strong team, including Adam Northcott, Hamish Harris, Seb Musgrave and Dan Skeemer, with Marcus Prout and Jack Mitchell named on the bench.
Ivybridge’s skills coach Steve Atkinson thinks it will be another good game, just like the last match between the team.
“If they have the same side out, it will be a good battle,” said Atkinson.
“We want to chuck the ball about a bit and use the pitch to our advantage, which we always try and do.”
In the same division, Plympton Victoria make the trip to bottom side Kingsbridge looking for revenge after narrowly losing 17-16 to them at home.
“We’re looking forward to it,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt. “It should be an interesting fixture.”
Plymstock Oaks II travel to Paignton II, while in Cornwall Three Saltash II host Roseland.
Meanwhile, Plymouth Dolphins’ first team are at home on Saturday when they entertain Devon rivals West Country Wasps at St Mary’s Field in their final league game.
The Dolphins need to beat the Wasps to have chance of topping the table. The teams will also be playing for the Dumnionion Cup.
The Dolphins’ development team are set to win their IGR South Merit League for the second year in a row.
OPM Jesters are also in action on Saturday. They are hosting University of Plymouth III at King George V Playing Fields (kick-off 1.30pm).