DEVONPORT Services will be hoping to overcome a host of injuries and unavailabilities to open up a gap at the top of Regional One South West on Saturday.
The league leaders head to second-placed Topsham this weekend knowing they could move seven points clear, if they were to win and deny their east Devon rivals any points.
But Services know it will be tough against a Topsham side who are currently just two points behind them and who are unbeaten at home this term.
Devonport are also unable to call on the likes of Tom Davies, Sam Brown, Jesse Lowe, Toby Knowles, Henry Gliddon, George Pooley, James Hocking, Rikki Bentham and Yianni Costas, while Richard West is also a doubt.
“I think there are 35 boys across the board in the ones and twos that are injured or unavailable this weekend – and 25 are probably injured,” said Services head coach Ben Russell.
“It’s challenging times, but we did it last year in the league above.
“We have got a team, that if we go out and play our rugby and front up, can go to Topsham and win, if we get it right.
“We need to be eight-and-a-half out of 10. If we are, then we should be good enough to win it.
“It is a massive game, and we want to put a marker down.
“It is still a very good side that we will be putting out and is good enough to go to Topsham and win. We just have to be right on the day.
“Our goal is to try and get as many points as we can before Christmas.
We just have to keep on fighting and battling.
“We just have to make sure we play in the right areas on Saturday, especially as it is likely to be wet.”
Recent signing Lowe was taken to hospital last weekend after taking a big hit against Exmouth in the Devon Senior Cup.
“He’s had such a massive shock that his nerves have gone crazy,” said Russell. “He’s got the okay, but he will need three to five weeks off.”
Fin White, who made his debut in that match, is also now ruled out with a joint problem, while Charlie Over suffered a hand injury playing for the seconds last weekend.
But the better news for Services is that they should have Harrison Coonick and Matt Neyle returning to their backline this weekend.
Former Topsham player Bertie Fordham is also set to return to the starting line-up with Hocking missing.
With Bentham and Costas unavailable, Josh Martin is set to offer front-row cover on the bench, while Aiden Taylor could be back among the replacements, even though he has been carrying an injury.
REGIONAL TWO SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE will be looking to pull off a shock on Saturday when they travel to unbeaten league leaders Weston-supre-Mare.
The Somerset club have made a terrific start to the 2025-26 season and have picked up a maximum 40 points from their opening eight league matches to move eight points clear at the top.
Ivybridge sit in fourth place, but have yet to win on their travels this season
“The boys are looking forward to it,” said head coach Steve Atkinson.
“Weston-supre-Mare are eight from eight and I think they have had a winger (Hayden Main) who has scored something like 18 tries, so we’ve had a little think about that.”
Atkinson knows his side will be the underdogs this weekend.
“Yeah, definitely,” he said. “Yet we are going to look for the five point win, but you have to look for whatever you can get away from home. If we can score four tries and come within seven, we’d be buzzing with that.”
Ivybridge pulled out of their first and second team cup fixtures away at Topsham last weekend due to injuries and unavailablities, but they do have two sides this weekend.
But with some players still missing Finn Hamilton and Alex Percival are set to be added to the first team squad.
“We are not too bad with the starting XV,” said Atkinson. “But we are likely to have one or two debutants on the bench.
“The boys were obviously gutted last weekend. We thought we were out of the cup (having lost to Services), but then realised we were dropping into the shield, only we then had boys unavailable.
“We thought we had managed to get a first team out with a mixture of ones and twos, but then the hooker pulled out and one of the props got injured and we didn’t have any replacements.
“It was disappointing but was just one of those things.
“We spoke to Topsham and we were trying to get a team as we knew they had a big day planned, but it was just one of those where we just couldn’t fulfil the fixture.”
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
PLYMSTOCK Oaks will be looking to continue their rise up the Western West table when they host St Ives at Horsham Fields on Saturday.
Oaks moved up to seventh after narrowly beating Saltash away in their last league match and they could move into the top four, if they could overcome third-placed St Ives in a tight league, where just one win can move a side from one end of the table to the other.
Both last year’s matches between Oaks and St Ives went to the home side and although Saints have got four wins this year, they have all come at home.
“St Ives away is hard, but St Ives at home, you are thinking you should win it,” said Oaks head coach Lewis Paterson. “These are the type of wins you need to get in your bag.
“But if they come up strong on the day, then you don’t know. They were really good up here when they played us here last season.
“They do have some big players and they are a lumpy side.
“And anyone can beat anyone in this league.
“The top of the league is Wiveliscombe and the bottom is Saltash, who only lost to them by one point.”
Oaks are boosted by the return of Devon back Corey Jamieson, but they are missing in-form scrum-half Harry Toghill. Sean Wills is again missing in the front-row, so Charlie Dutton will get a start at loose-head prop.
Saltash will be hoping they can get their first away win this weekend when they travel to fellow newcomers Torquay Athletic.
Both sides have been really competitive since coming up into the division but have just found wins hard to come by and sit in the bottom four.
However, even though Saltash are bottom, they are only four points off fifth place, with eight teams all having between 12 and 16 points.
Saltash and Torquay last met during the 2021-22 season when they were both in the Cornwall/Devon League. The Ashes won 43-17 at home, but lost 32-27 away.
The Ashes are boosted by the return of full-back Ryan Cruickshanks, who has recovered from a fractured ankle, and flanker Phil Eatwell, who had been out with a knee problem. They are set to name one of their strongest sides of the season, even though they are still missing Fin Jones, Danny Snook, Devon Bennett-Murray and Ryan Rayner.
COUNTIES TWO DEVON
THERE is derby match in Counties Two Devon this weekend with bottom-of-the-table Ivybridge II host seventh-placed Tavistock.
Ivybridge II finally got off the mark in their last league game with a narrow 20-17 away victory over struggling Dartmouth.
They also won a cup match before that so they have found a bit of form.
Tavistock have three wins out of six to their name and they hope they can make it four this weekend.
“Going away to Ivybridge is never easy,” said Tavistock head coach Leigh Puttock. “We know we’ll need to be right on our game from the first whistle.
“It’s been a great week of training, especially linking up with the colts to work on our team play.
“It’s not only shown the talent the club has coming through, but it’s also given the seniors a real boost.
“The club is fully embracing a ‘development for all’ philosophy, and that genuinely excites me.
“But one area we must address is our slow starts. We all know that when we play with energy and stick to our structure, we’re a match for anyone.
“As is the nature of rugby at this level, we have a few players unavailable, but once again we’re able to put out a squad more than capable of delivering the performance required.”
Tavistock do welcome back Hammy Kerswill, Tylo Coupland and Calum Baker in the pack, but they are missing a few backs, including Jordan Taylor.
They have named a strong bench that does include Josh O’Neil, Andrew Schuttacker and Harry Ball.
Ivybridge’s side is set to include Matt Grieveson, Charlie Moody, Matt Gilbury and Alex Garner.
“Hopefully, they can make it three wins in a row, that’s the plan,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson. “But I think Tavistock will be pretty good.
“Hopefully, though, we can use the pitch to our advantage.”
League leaders Devonport Services II have a tricky trip to Crediton II on Saturday.
Crediton II have only won once since their promotion, but they are much better at home and Services II will be travelling with a much-changed team due to injuries and unavailabilities.
“The seconds are hit,” said Service head coach Ben Russell. “I think the backline has five new names in and the week before they were five new names as well.
“We have got strength in depth, but the twos did so well two weeks ago to go to Topsham and win.
“I think the twos have a harder job in their league than the firsts do. It is a really tough league, with a lot of competitive sides in it and they can probably only afford to lose one more game for the whole season.”
OPMs could help Services II’s out, if they could upset Exeter Saracens at King George V Playing Fields on Saturday.
Exeter Saracens currently sit third in the table, just two points behind leaders Services II.
Saturday’s Elburton visitors have only lost once this season – away at Services II – and they have won their last four league games.
“I think last year they came to us and I think we were winning up to the 70th minute,” said OPMs head coach James Digweed. “But there was 16 minutes of extra time played and they came back and beat us.
“We will look to get some revenge for that one.”
He added: “I feel the team is coming together nicely now. We are well into the season and are showing what we can do.”
COUNTIES THREE
AFTER a two-week break, Plymouth Argaum are hoping to get back into action with an away trip to struggling Kingsbridge II in Devon South & West.
Kingsbridge II have yet to win a game this season and have handed walkovers in two of their five matches.
“Fingers crossed they can get a team out,” said Argaum head coach Dean Avery.
“We have had two weeks off, which was nice, it was the opportunity to re-group.
“And I think we have 26 available this Saturday, which is really positive.
“There’s lots of people back in so we are hoping to get a fixture as the boys are looking forward to playing.”
There is a possibility Argaum could play two games in five days as they could play the Medics in the Lockie Cup on Wednesday evening, if a venue can be found.
Whatever happens on Saturday between Kingsbridge II and Argaum, Plympton Victoria will stay bottom as they are unable to get a team together to visit unbeaten runaway leaders Brixham II.
It is the first time this season that they haven’t managed to get a side out.
“We had six players available before really scraping the barrel and getting 55-year-old men to put their boots on, but even then we only had eight,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt. “Unfortunately, we didn’t even have enough available to even have ‘game-on’.
“We’ve had a lot of people pick up injuries and a bunch of people away. You can’t help, what you can’t help.”
Old Techs face a tricky trip to their old rivals Totnes on Saturday.
Currently the teams are separated by just one point, with Totnes being the surprise package this season.
Totnes beat Tamar Saracens earlier in the season and finished within a score of Paignton II and Plymouth Argaum.
Techs have come a cropper before at Borough Park and so will know they need to be on form to get a much-needed win.
They will have been boosted by their performance against Brixham II in their last outing.
Tamar Saracens will be looking for their third league win of the season when they entertain Torquay Athletic II at the Parkway.
Torquay have only lost once this term – a 90-point defeat to leaders Brixham II – and they beat Totnes 49-20 in their last match.
Like most second teams they are dependent on injuries to their first XV and so Tamar Saracens will not be totally sure what to expect.
Sarries have won the two previous meetings between the sides.
In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II host winless Roseland at Moorlands Lane.
The Ashes are able to name quite a strong side, including Charlie Knight, for the match.