THERE is going to be no shortage of derby games in Counties Three Devon South & West this season with Plymouth Argaum and Tamar Saracens returning to the league.
The duo were relegated from Counties Two Devon and they will join their city rivals Old Techs, Plympton Victoria and Plymstock Oaks II in the 11-strong level nine league.
And not surprisingly there is a derby game to start the season with Argaum hosting Plym Vic at Bickleigh Down.
The match should have actually been played at Plym Vic’s St Mary’s ground, but due to a problem with water supply to their changing rooms at the Plympton venue, the fixture had to be switched.
Plym Vic know it will be tough against an Argaum team, who have strengthened in the summer with the likes of Reece Boase, who has joined as a player-coach from Tamar Saracens, Adam Walker, James Cook, Jerry Vakalutu, Usaia Masuwale and Amniniasi Tuidravutu.
“You have to play everyone and look at the start we got last year – Ivybridge II,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt.
“You just have to take every game as it comes and give it your all.”
Plym Vic have got a new coach this season, with Gareth McLeggan taking over the reins.
Josh Hughes has left to join Ivybridge, but Plym Vic have kept the bulk of their squad.
“We lost a couple, but we also gained a couple, so the numbers have remained more or less steady,” said Hunt.
“But, like most smaller rugby teams, it is just about getting everybody available at the right time on the right day.”
Hunt knows it will be a tough division with two teams coming down from the higher league, but said: “We’ll just get on with it, like we do every year. We’ll try our hardest and see if we can get the glory where we can.
“There will be games that we can target, but we had done that in the past and fallen foul. We just have to take the next game as the most important and take for there.”
Plym Vic may not have got loads of wins in the last couple of years, but they have certainly been competitive since returning to the league.
“Even if we have been beaten by a fair amount of points, we would like to think they have been in a competition,” said Hunt.
Argaum head coach Dean Avery is looking forward to the start of the season and he is hopeful his team can be pushing towards the top.
“I think, to be honest, if we don’t finish within the top two it will be a disappointing season,” admitted Avery.
“I took over the club four years ago. The first season was fantastic but the last two (in Counties Two) have been tough, but players have just not made themselves available.
“However, I am already seeing a bit of a buzz back.”
He added: “We have nearly 100 people affiliated with the club, but it is just about getting a core of 25 players who can commit – that’s the goal going into the season.”
On this weekend’s game, Avery said: “We have played Plym Vic in pre-season the last couple of years and we have done okay against them. They are a fantastic club and it’s good to see they are still going strong, but I would like to think we can put on a performance and we can get five points.”
One of Argaum’s big rivals is likely to be Old Techs, who finished third last season behind Ivybridge II and Brixham II.
They will open their campaign with a home game against Paignton II.
“It’s nice to have a home game for a change at the start of the season as we nearly always are away,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith.
“At this time of year, you still have people on holiday and things like that, so it helps if you are at home.”
Old Techs might have finished third last term, but Bedford-Smith says that does not mean too much in a league where teams can change quickly.
“You just don’t know at this level what you are going to get from any team at the start of the season,” he said. “You are sort of starting all over again.
“People might say so-and-so were only mid-table last season, but we were mid-table the season before but we got our act together and we ended up third.
“If Paignton’s first team have recruited a few new players, then some of their firsts from last year could drop into their seconds and be stronger.
“I think this league could be wide open.
“We have not really set a target really. We know this league is going to be tough. Argaum and Tamar Saracens have dropped down, and you still have Brixham II in there, Salcombe are always tough, but all the teams are tough. It is a really difficult league.
“If you are looking on last season then Brixham II – they are always going to have colts coming through and they have strengthened their firsts. I think they were disappointed that they missed out on promotion.
“But I think mid-table teams will be beating teams at the top this year.
“At this level, if you commit and can have a group of players who are available week-in, week-out and have a bit of strength in depth then you can do all right – we proved that last year.”
Techs have kept the bulk of their squad together and also have Rudi Baker, Joe Bailey, Dan Pullen and Phil Flowers back after missing much of last season for various reasons.
They have also brought in Charlie Young, whose grandad John was the chairman of the club for years and his dad, Mark, also played for Techs, Joe Cartwright, Callum Jones and Aaron Summerville.
“We have got a few new lads and a few who missed last year,” said Bedford-Smith.
“I think we have a bit of depth, which you need.
“We were third last year so you would at least like to mirror that, but we know how hard this league is.”
Techs will be missing Ollie Davey and Jenson Baker this weekend, but hope to have them back the following week.
There has been a lot of change at Tamar Saracens over the summer following their relegation from Counties Two Devon.
Sarries finished third from bottom in the higher league and normally that would have been enough to stay up, but due to the knock-on impact of relegation from the leagues above, three went down.
The club have said goodbye to head coach Mike Lewis and director of rugby Pete Lethbridge, while players like Joey Pook, Frazer Tatchell, Marc Cioffi, Lew Harris and Adam Coutts have either retired or taking a break from rugby for a while.
Adrian Coles has come in as their new head coach and Adam Corbett has taken over as captain.
The club have signed some young players like Lewis and Harvey Tucker and Jack Welch, while Blake Smith has returned.
Corbett said: “It was gutting getting relegated, but we just have to carry on and look to this season. We just have to crack on and do the best we can.
“We have got a new coach come on board – Adrian Coles – and we have signed some new, young players, as well as some with bit of experience as well.
“We are taking this as more of a re-building season as we have had a few retire from last season.
“We are trying to take all the positive out of it, with new players coming in.
“We are just trying to re-build. At the moment, we haven’t set any particular goals; we are just going to take it game by game.
“We have a young, fresh team and we are raring to go.”
Tamar Saracens will open their season with an away trip to Totnes.
Also in the league, Oaks II will start their campaign with a tough trip to Torquay II.
Plymstock have been able to name a strong second team for the game with experienced players like Andy Porter, Lance Davies, Nathan Akers and Jack Hardman featuring alongside a host of young players.
“We have got some good depth in players this season as another round of colts have come through,” said Oak head coach Lewis Paterson.
Saltash II do not start their Counties Three Cornwall league season until September 20 when they are due to visit Hayle.