TITLE-chasing Devonport Services made a disappointing start to 2026 as they were narrowly beaten 10-9 by big rivals Brixham at the Rectory on Saturday.
It was Services’ first home defeat of the season and only their second loss of the campaign, having also been beaten by Brixham away.
Devonport were never behind until the 74th minute on Saturday, and even then, they then had two late kicks to win the match at the death.
But stand-in goalkicker Matt Neyle, who had successfully put over three earlier kicks, missed them both.
The loss has dropped Services down to second in the table, three points behind new leaders Topsham, who still have to visit the Rectory.
The Devonport players know the title is still in their own hands, but they will need to sort out their set-piece if they are to secure a return back to National Two West.
They were probably the better team in open play on Saturday, but they just lost far too many line-outs that denied them valuable possession and territory.
Their scrum also was not where it should be, but they were missing key prop Oli Symons, as well as long-term absentees Aiden Taylor and Rikki Bentham, who have injuries that prevent them from scrumming.
Their lack of a specialist hooker did tell on Saturday and at one point it looked like everyone was having a go at throwing in.
“How can you expect to win a game if you are only winning about 40 per cent of your line-outs?,” said Services head coach Ben Russell afterwards.
“We could have walked that game had we had a set-piece.”
He added: “At the end of the day, we had two kicks to win it, but we didn’t get them.
“If we had got those penalties we would have won it, but it’s not down to those. We haven’t kicked to the corner because we weren’t able to win our line-out.
“But it’s not just about the line-out; it’s fitness and everything.
“We did play some rugby, but we didn’t play how we can as our work-rate wasn’t good enough.”
Russell hopes the defeat will be the kick-start his team need.
“I think it just summed up where we have been really from the start of the season,” he said.
“We were lucky against Lydney – winning with in an intercept try with the last play of the game – and we were lucky to get back and draw against Topsham.
“Our standards haven’t been where they need to be, but hopefully this will be the best thing that has happened.”
He added: “If you look at the game in general, it was a proper Christmas game – it was poor rugby from both sides.
“We are supposed to be two of the top two attacking sides in the league, but there was only one try scored.
“It was a dire game of rugby and we need a bit of a re-set now.”
Services were missing Symons, Sam Brown and Harrison Coonick from their last outing in December, but they started quite promisingly on Saturday.
Toby Knowles made a good break that led to Brixham’s Mitch Pinkus picking up an early yellow card.
Knowles then thought he had scored a try, but it was ruled out for a foot in touch.
Services did have a few early penalties but on each of them they went for the corner, only to lose the line-out.
Third-placed Brixham had some good pressure mid-way through the first half and Pinkus missed a long-range kick at goal on 24 minutes.
Devonport did look like they might find a breakthrough when James McFarlane put Mike Rickard clear, but he was illegally stopped by a high tackle, which resulted in Brixham having Jason Capaldi sin-binned.
But Services could not take advantage of the extra man again, despite pressing the line.
Eventually, they did opt for goal with the last play of the half when they were awarded a penalty and Neyle put the kick over to give his side a 3-0 half-time lead.
He added two more kicks in the opening nine minutes of the second half to put Services 9-0 up.
The home supporters were probably hoping their team would push on after going two scores up, but Brixham quickly cut the gap to six points with a Pinkus penalty following a scrum.
Services did defend well and Brixham never broke their line until six minutes from time when the visitors were awarded a scrum on the 22 after the home side knocked on a kick. From the set-play, Brixham produced a fine move that led to winger Kai Kidd bursting through to score under the posts. Pinkus added the simple conversion to put his side one point up.
But it looked like Services were going to produce another late comeback after they won the re-start ball and eventually got a penalty on the left.
Neyle went for the posts, but his effort just went wide.
Devonport got another penalty for a high tackle two minutes later, but this time went for the corner. They won the line-out and drove, but they were stopped illegally on the line by Brixham and got another penalty.
Services opted to try for the posts again, this time from the opposite side of the pitch, but Neyle’s attempt again just went wide.
And Devonport’s afternoon was summed up at the end when they got another penalty on halfway and went for touch for one last opportunity, but they missed touch and Brixham gathered and kicked out to win the match.
REGIONAL TWO SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE finally ended their long wait for an away win by beating Okehampton 26-21 at the Showground on Saturday, thanks to a last-gasp try by Harry Newman-Wild.
It was the Bridgers first win on their travels for 15 months and their first at Okehampton since 2013.
The victory has moved Ivybridge up to fifth in the table and they are just two points behind Okehampton and Wadebridge Camels in third and fourth with a game in hand against winless Wellington.
The Cross-in-Hand side trailed 7-0 at half-time on Saturday, but they hit back after the interval to go 14-7 ahead thanks to tries by Jack Guyver and Charlie Teague, which were both converted by Harry Newman-Wild.
However, Okehampton responded and they scored two unanswered tries to go 21-14 in front.
Ivybridge, though, dug deep and another try by Guyver pulled them level before Newman-Wild’s late effort enabled them to not only win, but also pick up a bonus point.
“It was an unbelievable game,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson afterwards.
“The game swung both ways so many times that you wasn’t sure who was going to pip it.
“We started off with a bit of trouble when our starting loose-head had car problems and couldn’t get to the ground so we ended up playing with 17.
“It was an unbelievable effort from the lads as Okehampton brought their ‘A’ game.
“I thought we were going to go in scoreless at half-time, but we had a few decisions go against us and they ended up going in under the posts from close range with the last play of the game.
“But we didn’t have to make any adjustments at half-time because really we weren’t doing anything wrong.
“We then came out and scored straight away and then it was back and forth a couple of tries each until the last play of the game.
“We missed touch, they kicked back and we somehow managed to get the ball into the wide channel again and score in the corner with the last play of the game.”
He added: “I’m really happy for the boys to finally get that away win.
“And it was a fantastic way to get it after hearing the same old ‘can’t play away’ shouts from the crowd. It was nice to quieten them all down and show that actually we can play away.
“If you look at our results, bar maybe Weston away and Pirates away, where we went down with six second team lads, we have been really competitive away from home, and our bonus points show that.”
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
PLYMSTOCK Oaks dug deep to open 2026 with a hard-earned 29-27 home victory over Barnstaple II on Saturday in Western West.
It was Oaks’ second successive win, having seen off Newton Abbot at home just before Christmas.
Saturday’s win did right a bit of a wrong for Plymstock, who had been beaten 57-7 away by Barnstaple II at the start of the season.
“It was an entertaining, end-to-end, nail-biter,” said Oaks coach Mike Lewis on Saturday’s match.
“Both teams could have won the game at points, but I think the scoreline was pretty fair in the end and we just edged it.
“I think we could have scored a couple more tries, but they will probably say the same.
“In the second half they gave away far too many penalties and we took advantage of it.”
After going behind early on to a Tom Swales try, Oaks hit back with a touch-down by Corey Jamieson, which head coach Lewis Paterson converted.
Paterson then added a penalty to put Plymstock 10-5 up, but tries by Joe Hastie and Max Moore gave Barnstaple II a 20-10 lead at the break.
However, Oaks quickly went back in front in the second half with touchdowns from hooker Joe Donnelly and another from winger Corey Jamieson.
Ollie White then scored a converted try to put Oaks nine points ahead.
Barnstaple did score a late converted try by Harrison Greenslade, but Oaks were able to hang on for the five points.
Despite back-to-back bonus-point wins, Oaks remain in the bottom three, but they are only two points behind Truro, who sit in sixth spot.
“It is a weird old table,” said Lewis. “But we knew it was likely to be like that. We just have to keep chipping away.”
Second-from-bottom Saltash have lost a bit of ground on Oaks after losing 24-0 away at fourth placed St Ives.
The Ashes had beaten St Ives at home, but the west Cornwall club are always stronger on their own patch.
Saltash had been boosted by an away win at Penryn before Christmas, but they did not ever really look like they would do the double over the Saints, who handed a league debut to their Argentine coach Nicolas de Battista, the former Cornish Pirates fly-half.
The Ashes were missing captain James Moriarty on Saturday, as well as fellow back Ryan Cruickhanks and hooker Rob Walsh, who has been recalled by Devonport Services.
They were then forced to make an early change when James Sutton went off injured and Lewis Wells reverted to the pack, with Todd Crofts coming off the bench and into the centre.
The Ashes held the edge for the initial 30 minutes but were unable to cross the home line and during a rare excursion into the Saltash 22 the Hakes scored an unconverted try through Fletcher Kelly on the right wing after 35 minutes.
And just before the interval another St Ives handling move ended with a try by Bayley Rogers which was converted by Matt Turton giving them a lead of 12-0.
The second period started with the home side in control and a converted try by Sean Stevens after 53 minutes increased their lead which was never threatened by the Ashes’ efforts which were repelled by the quick covering St Ives defence.
A bonus point try was scored a few minutes before the final whistle for St Ives in the fading light.
Although losing, there were good performances for Saltash by Tom Hoban and Liall Honey, who worked hard in the pack, while Crofts was lively when he came on at centre. Youngster Dylan Davies continues to improve at fly-half and Billy Dover was solid at full-back.
COUNTIES TWO DEVON
DEVONPORT Services II have opened up a 10-point lead at the top of Counties Two Devon after they beat Exeter Saracens 59-27 away and none of their title rivals were able to win on Saturday.
Exeter Saracens had not previously lost at home this season, but Services II turned on the style to run in eight tries.
The home side did go 8-0 up before Devonport got going with a try by Luke Stannard, which Leighton Stark converted.
Exeter then went 15-7 in front, but the visitors finished the first half strongly and took a 28-15 lead at the break thanks to tries by former Saltash hooker Rob Walsh, Toby Moss and Freddie Dover.
After the interval, Services continued their form and went 54-14 ahead with unanswered tries by Ethan Hilland, Elliott Pocknell, Charlie Over and Sam Fincham.
Late in the game, Services II had Aaron Duffield and Matt Scott sin-binned at the same time and Exeter did take advantage to score two late tries.
Services II were grateful to OPMs, who drew 15-15 with second-placed Bideford at King George V Playing Fields on Saturday.
OPMs had been 15-0 up at the break thanks to tries by Pete Marr and Will Mills and a conversion and penalty by Fred Smale.
But Bideford did come back in the second half to claim a share of the spoils, leaving OPMs coach James Digweed will a few mixed feelings.
“To be honest, I’m quite happy,” he said afterwards.
“At first, I was a bit disappointed as we were 15-0 up at half-time.
“Unfortunately, standard OPMs, after 60 minutes we get a bit tired and start making high tackles and giving away penalties.
“But it was still a good result and I was happy overall.
“We have been working a lot on our defence in the last few months and it was superb, especially as they (Bideford) have come down from the league above.”
Tavistock got back to winning ways in style by beating struggling Dartmouth 73-5 at Sandy Park on Saturday.
It was Tavistock’s first win since November 8 and head coach Leigh Puttock is hoping they can push on now.
“This can definitely be a springboard,” he said. “We were in the huddle afterwards and players are calling on each other to commit.
“It is about getting players buzzing again and them not feeling like it is a slog.”
He added: “Dartmouth came down without a full team and so it was a big disjointed.
“Seeing clubs struggling to get a team out is modern day rugby.
“But it is always nice to go out and play some rugby and get some points on the board.
“We just have to follow it up with an away game again.”
Backs Liam Watts and Logan Suish both scored hat-tricks for Tavistock, with Solly Hunter bagging two and Toby Teague, Calum Baker and Will White also touching down, with Freddie Fuller adding the rest of the points with the boot.
Ivybridge II are really keeping the pressure on Tavistock after they beat Crediton II 47-29 at Cross-in-Hand on Saturday.
It was their fourth win of the season and, although they stay in the bottom two, they are within touching distance of the mid-table teams.
The Vandals managed seven tries on Saturday, with new signing from Plympton Victoria, Sid Bear, getting them underway with their first on 13 minutes.
Fellow former Plym Vic forward Ben Burgess got their second before Charlie Moody got a third.
Crediton closed the gap to 21-19 at half-time with two tries just before the break, but Ivybridge pulled away in the second period with touch-downs from Ben Collins, Owen Alp, Angus Harris and Ryan Cox, with Matt Grieveson kicking six conversions.
“I think it was quite close and then our fitness took over and we steamrolled them in the end,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson.
“The Vandals have definitely clicked and with most of our injured players back now we can hopefully push on.
“We know there is a lot of work to do yet and we have a really hard run of games, but it’s looking very positive at the moment.”
COUNTIES THREE DEVON SOUTH & WEST
DAN SMITH scored a last-gasp converted try as Plymouth Argaum snatched a 22-21 away victory at Salcombe on Saturday.
Argaum had been 10-0 up at half-time, thanks to a try in the opening seconds of the game by Mike Dutton and a conversion and penalty from Jake Turfrey.
Salcombe came back and went 14-10 ahead before Argaum restored their lead with a try by coach Dean Avery.
But late on the Crabs scored what they thought was a winning try to go 21-15 up with just three minutes to go.
However, Argaum managed to get the ball back from the restart and after a series of pick-and-goes, Smith managed to get over the whitewash and Turfrey converted to win the match.
“It was really, really good,” said head coach Avery.
“We had quite a bit of sickness in the camp and have five people drop out between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning so we travelled quite light.
“We also had a car-load of people late. Fortunately and thankfully, Salcombe kindly agreed to delay kick-off for 15 minutes to allow them to arrive so we didn’t have to do game-on or anything.
“We composed ourselves quite well in the first half. Half-time we went 10-0 up.
“But they had a sponsors’ day and in the second half they were playing towards their big crowd.
“They was probably about three minutes left on the clock when they scored in the corner and they thought they had won the game as we needed a converted try.
“But we managed to recover the ball from the kick-off and just picked and went and picked and went and eventually Dan Smith went over and Jake Turfrey converted.
“It was a good end to the day, and it makes all the effort of getting a team together worthwhile.”
The win has moved Argaum up to third, but Old Techs are breathing down their necks after they beat Torquay Athletic II 24-10 at Weston Mill on Saturday.
Techs, who are on a three-game winning run, are up to fourth and are just three points behind Argaum.
Old Techs dominated up front and controlled most of the game against a Torquay side, who had only lost two games prior to Saturday.
They went 17-0 up and Torquay did not score until the final 10 minutes.
Rudi Baker, Billy Evans and James Bothma scored for Techs, who were missing big ball carriers Ollie Davey and Josh O’Hare, with Sammie Matts kicking the rest of their points.
“It was good,” said Techs chairman David Evans. “We carried on from the Argaum game before Christmas.
“They (Torquay) are a decent enough side and are dangerous in the backs, but we had them up front.
“It was a good start to the new year.”
Tamar Saracens also enjoyed a good start to 2026 as they beat a strong Plymstock Oaks II team 34-17 at the Parkway.
“We are buzzing, especially after the break and the result against Brixham,” said Sarries captain Adam Corbet.
“It is nice to get back to winning ways.
“I think it was one of only a few times this season where we had over 20-plus to choose from, which was nice, but unfortunately, some people had to miss out.
“I was really proud of the lads. We started well and really took it to them. Some of the rugby we played was brilliant.
“It was a really good, all-round performance.
“We owed them one from the beginning of the season. We thought we were a bit hard done by when we played them at their place.
“We are just going to keep pushing now and try and get more and more people available.
“Alex Israel made his 250th appearance on Saturday, which is a great milestone for him and the club.”
Lewis Swatton, Lewis Tucker, Isaac Blasdale and Rob Hall were among Sarries’ try scorers on Saturday.
Plympton Victoria have moved off the foot of the table, despite losing 40-0 at home to second-placed Paignton II.
Kingsbridge II have dropped below them after handing runaway leaders Brixham II a walkover.
Despite losing, Plym Vic were pretty happy with their performance with a bit of a makeshift team.
The game did ‘officially’ finish early due to an injury to the referee, but Plym Vic coach Gareth Mcleggan, who is a qualified official, stepped in to allow the teams to continue playing for a bit longer.
“We played some half decent rugby in places,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt.
“The game started at a great pace, but when we made a mistake, they were very quick to capitalise on it.
“But our scrummage was good and we played some good rugby.
“It was just frustrating and a bit of a shame we couldn’t get anything out of it, but we got a team out and had a game of rugby and they (Paignton) are a good team with some good players.”
WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS SOUTH WEST 2
IVYBRIDGE extended their lead at the top of the table after a convincing 88-5 away victory over bottom side Oxford Harlequins on Saturday.
Winger Abbie Knight opened the scoring and chalked up a hat-trick in the first half and fellow winger Charleigh Hopkins matched her in the second period.
Chloe Huxter earned back of the match as she was instrumental in assisting with the 14 tries Ivybridge scored.
Head coach Georgina Gulliver said: “Our forwards were impressive and our set piece was good.
“We also saw starting debuts for (prop) Alyssa Cutland and 18-year-old (flanker) Savannah Vertessy.
“The scoreline didn’t really reflect the challenge that my ex-England and Saracens team-mate Charlotte Barras’ side posed us.
“But it was a great game to dust the cobwebs off post the Christmas break and we are now looking forward to Reading at home on Sunday, January 25.”
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