DEVONPORT Services will be hoping to end Lydney’s unbeaten start to the season in Regional One South West when they make the long trip to the Forest of Dean on Saturday.
Lydney currently sit one place and two points in front of third-placed Services.
The Gloucestershire side and leaders Topsham are the only two clubs left unbeaten after five games of the season.
“They drew their first game against Royal Wootton Bassett but have won all their others,” said Services head coach Ben Russell. “They have four wins on the bounce now.
“They have had some good results, including beating Brixham at home.”
Services have only lost once this season – away at Brixham – and are only four points behind leaders Topsham, who visit Brixham on Saturday.
That loss in their last away fixture will be fresh in Devonport’s minds and so they will have a point to prove at Regentsholme on Saturday.
Services narrowly won 24-20 on their last trip there in March 2024, which helped them claim the title that season.
“The two times I have been there in this league, we have only won by a score,” said Russell. “They have always been really close, physical battles.
“It is a tough place to go and one of our longest trips.”
Services go into the match on the back of a 46-21 home victory over Chew Valley.
“We played some lovely rugby at times last week and our defence was a lot better,” said Russell. “If you look at 95 per cent of the game our defence was on top. It was just a couple of little soft tackles where they broke the line and scored.
“But I said to the lads on Tuesday, we can’t have that going to Lydney. All 18 players have to make teams really fight for points, like we did a couple of years ago.”
Services are unlikely to make too many changes to their squad for this weekend’s trip, although winger Harrison Coonick, who made an impressive return to first team rugby last Saturday after more than a year out, is unavailable.
Shaun Crawford is set to return to the first team after a rare outing in the seconds last week.
REGIONAL TWO SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE will be bidding to continue their impressive home form when they entertain Devon rivals Crediton at Cross-in-Hand in Regional Two South West on Saturday (3pm).
The Bridgers have picked up a maximum 15 points from their three home league games so far this term, beating Winscombe, Teignmouth and Okehampton on their artificial grass pitch.
“We are looking forward to it this week and being back at home,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson, whose team were narrowly beaten 27-23 at Tiverton last weekend.
“I keep saying it, but we just want to win our home games and pick up whatever we can away. I am still disappointed about last week as it was probably another game we could have won.”
Ivybridge have not met Crediton in a league games since 2006 when both clubs were in Western West, but they have met recently in Devon cup competitions, including in the final of the Devon Senior Shield two years ago, which Crediton won 30-24.
“We have played them in the cup a few times over the last few seasons so we sort of know what to expect,” said Atkinson.
Crediton have been pushing for promotion to level five the last few seasons, but have made a slow start to this year’s campaign, winning just two of their opening five fixture.
“I think they’ve have a few players retired and some key characters not around as much, but they are still going to be normal Crediton,” said Atkinson.
“They tend to have a good pack and they still have a good 10.”
Ivybridge are set to make just one change to their starting line-up, with Tom Hancocks coming back into the back-row for Dan Gloyns.
On the bench, Ivybridge are set to hand a debut to young back Charlie Earnshaw, whose dad was once a first team player.
“He’s a talented young lad,” said Atkinson. “He was a nine, but he played for the colts on the wing and he’s got really good feet.”
Ivybridge’s second team are also at home on Saturday. They will play Devonport Services II at 1pm on their main pitch.
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
PLYMSTOCK Oaks are another team with two senior home matches on Saturday.
Their first team hosts Cornish side Penryn at Horsham Fields at 3pm, while their second team will entertain neighbours Plympton Victoria at 1.30pm.
“Our first and seconds teams are both at home this weekend, which is quite nice,” said coach Mike Lewis. “It is the first time that has happened this season.
“Seconds should have been away to Plym Vic but they had to reverse it.
“The weather is meant to be nice so it should be a good day.”
Oaks’ first team are in need of a win after falling to the bottom of the tight Western West table, where just four points separates them in 12th from fifth-placed Barnstaple II.
“It is a very even league,” said Lewis.
“Penryn have won one game like us, but they are usually quite a strong team.
“We are unsure what we are going to face on Saturday, but we our young players have had another week of experience and we are only going to get better.”
Oaks are set to be boosted by the return of Devon forward Ollie White.
“He’s a big ball carrier and we probably need that – just someone to get across the line,” said Lewis. “But we are missing prop Josh Breed and hooker Joe Donnelly, who took a knock last week, so we are going to have to change our front-row.”
Saltash are another team in the league to only have one win from their opening four games, although they have picked up losing bonus points in their other matches, which they have narrowly lost by just one score.
This weekend, the Ashes make the tough trip to leaders Paignton, who have won three out of four of their league matches.
Paignton’s only defeat so far was a 39-29 defeat at Redruth II, although they did make hard work of seeing off Penryn last week, narrowly winning 34-31 in Cornwall.
However, their home form is impressive and they have claimed convincing victories over Truro and Barnstaple II.
Saltash’s only win came against St Ives, but they have picked up losing points against Newton Abbot, Kingsbridge and Wiveliscombe.
COUNTIES TWO DEVON
TAVISTOCK face a tough away test on Saturday when they visit Honiton in Counties Two Devon.
The east Devon side finished second in the table last season, but had a slow start to this year’s campaign, losing their opening two matches to Bideford and South Molton.
But since then they have notched up a 34-31 home victory over Devonport Services II and a 78-7 away win at struggling Dartmouth.
Tavistock, who were beaten by Exeter Saracens last Saturday, also have two wins out of four to their name and currently sit one point and two places above Honiton in the table.
Sixth-placed Tavistock, though, have to make the trip without a host of regular players.
“You always want to respond to a disappointment with a strong performance the following week – even more so when it’s a long trip to face a team in form,” said Tavistock head coach Leigh Puttock.
“With a club stag-do in Benidorm and a number of work commitments, we’ve got 17 players unavailable this weekend.
“At one stage it looked like we might have to concede a home walkover, but, true to the spirt of this great little club, everyone has rallied together and we’ll be travelling with a full side and a bench.
“And we are not going there to make up the numbers. We’ve got players who are hungry to bounce back and last week and others who want to stake their claim for a starting spot.
“I’ve told them the same thing I always do – the jersey is theirs if they put the performance in.”
Hammy Kerswill, Martin Budden, Dan Yeatman, Henry Shaw, Myles Costello, Vaughan Glover, Charlie Teague and Jordan Taylor, who all started last week’s game against Exeter Saracens, are missing this week.
Cameron Wallace, Josh O’Neill, John Hudson, Tylo Coupland, Jason Ward, Rob Hughes, Oscar Slater and Taylor Rees all come into the team.
OPMs will be looking for a big response to their heavy defeat to Devonport Services II last weekend when they host winless Dartmouth at King George V Playing Fields on Saturday.
The Old Boys were beaten 72-7 by Services II and head coach James Digweed has made no secret about what he wants from his team this weekend.
“Without a shadow of doubt, we have to try and get five points from the game,” he said.
Dartmouth are really struggling this season and have yet to pick up a single point.
They did give Withycombe (36-20) and Tavistock (28-14) good games in the opening two weeks, but after the two-week cup break they have been crushed 91-7 by Exeter Saracens and 78-7 by Honiton.
But OPMs will not be taking them lightly after some tough fixtures with them over the years.
There is a second team derby at Cross-in-Hand on Saturday where bottom side Ivybridge II host second-placed Devonport Services II.
Ivybridge have not won a game yet and last weekend had to hand South Molton a walkover due to injuries and covid.
“We have a few lads back from covid and one or two more availabilities,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson. “We are still a bit light but we will have a team.
“We just have to try and get whatever we can out of it. Hopefully in three or four weeks when we have guys back from injury we can push on.”
Services II will have to make a number of changes to the team that put 72 points on OPMs last week.
“We have a few injuries and people away so we will have a changed side to last week,” said head coach Ben Russell.
COUNTIES THREE
THERE are two derby matches in Devon South & West with Tamar Saracens hosting Plymouth Argaum and Plymstock Oaks II entertaining Plympton Victoria.
Sarries and Argaum were both in Counties Two Devon last year but were relegated, with three teams dropping down.
Argaum have won two out of their three games this season, with their only defeat away at leaders Brixham II, whereas Saracens only have one win to their name at the moment, but it did come last weekend against Kingsbridge II.
“We got a result last year when we went to them,” said Argaum head coach Dean Avery.
“I think we will probably be favourites as they’ve had a bit of a slow start, but I’m sure they will be up trying to beat us and get revenge.
“It should be a good game. It always a fixture which brings the best out of both sides.
“The weather looks good, so hopefully, we can throw the ball around a bit.”
Argaum are set to welcome back We have Jake Turfrey, Karl Sullivan, Lee Rowley and Adam Walker back, but Tom Worboys will be missing.
Sarries are also looking forward to the contest after getting off the mark last weekend.
“We have a family community day, so that should be good,” said captain Adam Corbett. “It would be nice to get a good crowd down there and give back to the community.
“It is a local derby and one that lads are looking forward to.”
Plympton Victoria have had to reverse another home match due to water issues at their St Mary’s home pitch and so will visit Plymstock Oaks II instead of hosting them.
The council are due to try to re-establish water to the changing rooms at the Plympton venue today, but there was no guarantee it would be fixed for Saturday and so Plym Vic asked Oaks to reverse the fixture.
“With any luck, we will be able to play our next home fixture there,” said chairman Chris Hunt.
“This weekend we have got a strong squad for the first time this season, which is nice.
“We are looking forward to it. It’s always a good game up there (at Oaks).
“But, like with a lot of second teams, you are not really sure what you are going to get.”
Old Techs are also on their travels as they visit Salcombe, who have surprisingly only won once this season.
Techs have claimed back-to-back wins over Oaks II and Plym Vic and want to try and continue their run in the South Hams.
“I think Salcombe are a bit like most teams who if they have a few injuries and unavailabilities it can become a problem,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith.
“But it is never easy going to Salcombe. I can’t actually remember the last time we won there.
“They are always stronger at home and they never make it easy for you.
“Games with them tend to be close. I think we lost by one point on our last visit there.
“It’s certainly a ground where we’ve not done that well at, which is something we would like to change.
“We’ve got two wins now, but there are still a few things we need to tighten up on, particularly defensively.
“But hopefully we can go to Salcombe and make it three wins in a row.”
Techs are set to have Ben Hockey, Tom Blythe, Johnny Young and Lee Puleston available again.
Meanwhile, Saltash II are without a league game in Counties Three Cornwall, but will play Devonport Services III at Moorlands Lane.