DEVONPORT Services’ one-year stay in National League rugby will officially come to an end on Saturday, unless they claim a full five points at home to Hornets and Macclesfield fail to pick up a single point against Loughborough Students.
However, Services could finally move off the foot of the National Two West table if they can claim a fifth home win of the season.
Head coach Ben Russell knows his team, that have been battling injuries all season, are almost certain to be relegated, but he has set them the target of finishing above second-from-bottom Bourville, who are just four points ahead of them and still have to visit the Rectory.
“That’s the goal – not to finish bottom,” he said.
“And it would be good to finish with like a good 40 points, which would show that we have been very competitive, which we have but we have just missed out here and there.”
Hornets will arrive at the Rectory on Saturday sitting in sixth place after a strong second half of the season.
They have won five of their last six games – their only defeat coming in their last match against title-chasing Clifton.
“When we last played them around November/December time, they were just above us and to be honest, we should have won up there, but now they have gone on a bit of a roll,” said Russell.
“They are a good side. They have some good backs – some big ones and some small jinky ones.
“Their forwards get parity. They are not a dominant forward side, like some, but they are a good forward pack and they have some really nice backs.”
Services are missing a host of backs this weekend, including Charlie Groves, Matt Neyle, George Pooley, Henry Gliddon and long-term absentees like Harrison Coonick and Toby Knowles.
However, they are set to hand a league debut to former Ivybridge and Plymouth Albion back Dan Lilley, who joined the club a number of weeks ago but has not been available to play before now.
Billy Orchard is likely to come back into the startling line-up, while scrum-half Billy Sutton could be doubtful with an injury he picked up on the artificial pitch against Loughborough in their last outing.
Luke Stannard could be added to the first team squad.
Services are likely to field the same forward pack as they did in their last outing, although Sam Bennett will be missing from the bench.
REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST
ALREADY-relegated Ivybridge end their season on Saturday when they host eighth-placed Matson at Cross-in-Hand.
“It has been a tough season for us,” admitted skills coach Steve Atkinson, who has been leading the team since the club parted company with head coach Davy McGregor in February.
“We’ve got a lot of young lads and hopefully they have got something out of it, and they can take it into next season and get another year of men’s rugby under their belts.”
Yet Atkinson is hoping the team can finish this season on a high.
“That’s what we are hoping for,” he said. “We said a couple of weeks ago, that we wanted three five-point wins. We did manage to get one and hopefully we can squeeze another.”
He added: “We have played against Matson a couple of times and we know exactly what they are about. We know they are a tough side, but everyone is excited about the game.”
Ivybridge are able to welcome back Adam Northcott to the pack after he was unable to travel to Lydney for their last first team match. Will Peakman also returns to the pack, while Owen Garner and Dan Gloyns do keep their spots after impressing in the Forest of Dean.
The Bridgers are set to hand a debut to Harry Newman-Wild, who has been named among the replacements. He will continue a family tradition as his grandfather Paul, dad Danny and uncles Matt and Tommy Newman all played for the club.
Newman-Wild’s inclusion in the first team squad follows on from Joe Owen, son of Spencer and nephew of James, who made his first team debut against Lydney in their last match.
“It is nice to have these young lads who aspire to be first team players,” said Atkinson.
Meanwhile, Ivybridge have confirmed that their deadline for applications to be their new head coach will close today.
It is believed they have had a number of applications from coaches with extensive coaching experience in Devon.
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
TAVISTOCK are set to end their troubled season with a derby match away at their nearest rivals Plymstock Oaks on Saturday.
However, the Moorlanders are still trying to get a team together for their final fixture of the campaign, but they have said that the game will go ahead ‘in some capacity’ after they failed to fulfil their last match against Pirates Amateurs.
Tavistock will finish in the bottom two and are likely to be relegated, although that will not be officially confirmed until after all the leagues have finished.
Oaks are set to finish fourth and do have the luxury of being able to switch their squad around after playing in the Devon Intermediate Cup final last weekend.
Youngster Max Ringrose is set to start at fly-half on Saturday, with Lewis Paterson switching to centre, alongside Mac Lewis.
Tyrone Hancock, Andy Porter, Ben Kerswell, Robbie Hall, Stephen Eaton and Matthew Jackson are all set to come into the starting line-up.
Oaks head coach Paterson said: “I do feel for Tavistock as they are a good club with good morals.
“I hope they can get a side together and we can try and make it a good last game of the season.”
COUNTIES TWO
TAMAR Saracens go into their final match of the Counties Two Devon season worrying about an unexpected relegation.
Sarries will not finish in the bottom two after second-from-bottom Exmouth II pulled out of visiting champions Torquay Athletic on Saturday.
But the Ernesettle side will finish third-from-bottom if they fail to beat Exeter Saracens this weekend and Dartmouth win or draw against Withycombe.
Last season only two teams were relegated from Counties Two Devon, but league officials have said that three might go down from the 12-team league this time due to the knock-on impact of relegations higher up the pyramid.
Saracens’ head coach Mike Lewis does think it is wrong that teams do not know how many sides go down at the start of the season.
“It is one of those weeks when we shouldn’t be in a relegation fight, but as no-one knows what is going on in the league, we are,” he said.
“Normally, just two go down and so we should be safe and just going out and having a bit of fun in our final game, but instead we have to focus on trying to win just to be safe and that’s not the way it should be. We should know what is going on.”
He added: “Exmouth II have cried off already against Torquay so we won’t finish in the bottom two. If it is only two that go down, then we are definitely safe, but if it is three go down the we need to get a bonus point win and hope Dartmouth don’t get any points.”
Exeter Saracens are fourth in the table, but Tamar Saracens did claim a 9-3 win over them on the opening day of the campaign.
“We beat them at the start of the season in horrible conditions at our place,” said Lewis. “It was a tight game, but we had a good side out.”
Sarries are missing a few players this week, but say they do have 20 players to select from.
After this weekend, they will then play the RNEC Cup final against Plymouth Argaum on April 16 before facing South Molton at the end of the month in the second round of the Papa Johns Plate.
Meanwhile, Tamar Saracens director of rugby Pete Lethbridge has confirmed that he will be standing down at the end of the season.
He told the club’s committee: “After long consideration and thought, I have decided to step down from my role as director of rugby at the end of the season.
“I have had a wonderful time with Sarries over 25 years, playing and being part of the coaching team and committee.
“I have recently started a new job which will impact my commitment to the club.
“When I can, I will come and watch the lads and have a few beers with you all.
“Over the years I’ve put everything into helping the club, but it’s time for me to step down and relax on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
“I will see the season out and help the team for the remaining games.
“It’s been a pleasure being part of this wonderful club and working with you all.”
Plymouth Argaum know they are already relegated and they will end their league season with a derby game at city rivals OPMs, who are guaranteed to finish either seventh or eighth in the league.
Although there is not a lot resting on the game, OPMs would like to avenge their narrow 15-13 defeat to Argaum at the start of the campaign.
“It would be nice to finish on a win and also right some wrongs from when we narrowly lost at Argaum at the start of the season,” said OPMs team manager Shaun Grundy.
“They have nothing to lose and I’m sure they will throw everything at it.
“We’ve got a first and second team game and it’s also our VPs day, so should be a good day.”
Argaum head coach Dean Avery said: “We have effectively been relegated for the last few weeks, but when we have trained and tried to put a team together we’ve had good availability.
“Honiton are a good side but we were able to put out one of our best teams of the season last time out.
“And we have over 30 available for this weekend, which is fantastic. That bodes well for the RNEC cup final and for going into next year as well.”
Argaum should have the likes of Jake Turfrey, Tom Holliday, Tom Worboys and JJ vom Hagen available on Saturday.
“We will try to throw the ball around,” said Avery. “There is nothing to lose for either team. It is their VPs day and we have got a good relationship with OPMs and it’s a good game to finish the season with. Hopefully, we can have a good competitive game.”
Meanwhile, Avery has given Argaum a boost by agreeing to stay on as head coach for another season.
“I have committed to another year,” he said. “My kids are involved in the junior section here, so I am a bit part of the furniture now, although it was not necessarily an easy decision as it is a big commitment.
“It will be my fourth year and the club has come on massively with the juniors and facililties. The club is building something. If you come up on a Wednesday the floodlights will be on and there will be 40 or 50 kids running around, so we are building something.
“Long-term we have plans for the clubhouse in between the new pitches. It is really exciting.”
Devonport Services II know they have to beat Honiton away on Saturday to bag runners-up spot in the league.
Services dropped down to third last weekend, one point behind Honiton, who beat Exeter Saracens away in a rearranged fixture.
However, Services are struggling a bit for availability, especially in the front-row.
Devonport have used 44 different players in their first team and even more in the second string.
“We worked it out that the twos team has changed on average 44 per cent every game,” said Services head coach Ben Russell.
“As I said before, if we’d had everyone fit and available all year I think we might have walked that level eight league as we’ve have had two massively strong teams.
“But we’ve not had everyone available week-in, week-out and injuries were the main thing with us at the start of the year.”
In Counties Two Cornwall, already-crowned champions Saltash will be looking to finish their season with a 100 per cent record when they host St Just at Moorlands Lane.
It will be a special day for the Ashes as prolific winger Will Morton will be making his 300th appearance for the club and prop Liall Honey is 100th appearance.
Morton, who made his debut in 2008, has scored more than 300 tries for the club, including 48 in one season and has earned Cornwall honours along the way.
He will no doubt be keen to add to his try tally on Saturday against a St Just side who arrive in seventh spot.
When the sides met at the start of the season, Saltash triumphed 67-0.
COUNTIES THREE
IVYBRIDGE II will win the Counties Three Devon South & West Division if they beat Plympton Victoria away on Saturday.
The Bridgers’ second string go into their final fixture sitting one point ahead of Brixham II, who have to visit Paignton II on Saturday.
“The twos have been a big plus for us this year,” said Ivybridge skills coach Steve Atkinson.
“We have managed to get a solid twos side out every week and it would be nice to pick up a little trophy.
The twos lads are buzzing about this week. It should be a good local game.
“We have a few lads that came over from Plym Vic and they are a good local club and we do have a lot of respect for them. They have even trained with us a couple of times.”
Plym Vic know it will be a tough game and they will be massive underdogs, especially after Ivybridge II put 70 points on third-placed Old Techs in their last outing.
“We know it is going to be an exceptionally tough test,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt.
“But we are just going to use it as a yardstick and see if we have progressed from when we played them at the start of the season.”