DEVONPORT Services head coach Ben Russell has warned his league leading side that they cannot afford to take bottom club Matson lightly when they make the visit to the Gloucestershire side on Saturday.

Eleven places and 52 points separate the sides in Regional One South West, but with wet and muddy conditions expected, Services will assume Matson to try and use the conditions to their advantage.

“They have a good forward pack and they will want to get into a dog-fight,” said Services head coach Ben Russell.

“It is the same old story, if the boys don’t turn up, we lose the game.

“But we have been here before two years ago. We know what is needed at the business end of the season.

“We just have to go there, play our rugby and if we do, we should be okay, but only if we turn up.”

Services who have a two-point lead at the top ahead of second-placed Topsham are again missing a number of backs.

Sam Brown and Charlie Groves are unavailable on Saturday, while Harrison Coonick and Billy Orchard are still injured. Richard West is also an injury doubt.

But Devoport are set to welcome back Tom Davies and Matt Neyle in the backs and Bertie Fordham in the forwards.

“We are really strong in the forward pack, but we have a load of backs missing,” said Russell.

“James Hocking will probably start on the wing again. He did brilliantly there against Lydney. He’s really quick and powerful and he did a grand job for us last time out.”

Although their options in the backs are limited, in the forwards, Services have some tough calls to make.

“Bertie (Fordham) missed the last game, but he’s back and has played well all year, Harri Hayman came off the bench against Lydney and played really well and Freddy Dover has been playing really well,” said Russell. “But someone is going to have to drop down (to the twos).”

Services did comfortably beat a makeshift Matson team 78-7 at the Rectory in October, but they were made to work really hard for their win on their last visit to Redwell Road in April 2024 when they narrowly won 42-34 on their way to the title.

REGIONAL TWO SOUTH WEST

IVYBRIDGE will be looking for revenge on Saturday when they host Penzance-Newlyn at Cross-in-Hand in Regional Two South West.

The Pirates inflicted the Bridgers’ biggest defeat of the season on them when they beat them 48-7 at Mennaye Field at the end of October.

That is one of just two games where Ivybridge have not secured at least a point from – the other was away at unbeaten leaders Weston-super-Mare.

Ivybridge were missing a number of players for that trip to Penzance and then lost Joe Owen within the first five minutes and then picked up further injuries during the game.

“We had a couple of concussions, there was a red card (for them) and the game finished a couple of minutes early. It was a bit mad,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson on that previous clash.

“I think it should be a good game this weekend – a good Devon v Cornwall battle.

“I haven’t really looked closely at their results so don’t know how well they travel, but we’ll just expect what we had down there.

“I think the lads will be well prepared.

“We are really up for it. The boys are fired up and know what to expect.”

Ivybridge have not played a games since January 17 due to three postponements.

“At least we know we are definitely going to get a game this weekend, unless it snows,” said Aktinson.

“It has been a few weeks since we played, but we have been training twice a week.

“The lads just want to play rugby now.”

Ivybridge have not played since Harry Newman-Wild and Jack Guyver went off travelling.

Shay Taylor should finally get his first start at fly-half, while Lewis Cook could make his debut from the bench.

COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST

PLYMSTOCK Oaks face a crucial match away at bottom side Penryn on Saturday in Western West.

Oaks currently sit third from bottom, nine points above Penryn and seven ahead of second-from-bottom Saltash.

However, both Saltash and Penryn have two games in hand on Oaks, so Plymstock know they cannot afford to lose on Saturday in a match that has been moved to the artificial pitch at Penryn College (2pm)

“There are not many games that you say are must-win, but if you are third-from-bottom and your next two games are the bottom and second-from-bottom, then it is a season-defying few weeks,” admitted Oaks coach Mike Lewis.

“We still have a fair few missing this week. We seem to have have plenty of forwards, but we are a bit shorter on backs.”

At least with the match having already been moved to an artificial pitch, Oaks know the game will go-ahead.

“It’s one of those where it will be nice to just play and it should encourage a bit of rugby on a soggy February,” said Lewis.

“They (Penryn) have got a bit of a younger side now with a few young lads who will enjoy playing on that surface.

“We’ve got a few boys who like playing on 4G, but a few older chaps who hate playing on them.”

In a tight league, Oaks are only 12 points off a top three place and so they know a couple of wins can move them right up the table.

But they will want to avoid finishing in the bottom three as that is the maximum number of teams that could possibly be relegated from the league, while the minimum number is none. As things currently stand in the leagues above, it will be two going down, although that could change between now and the end of the season.

Saltash will also be desperate to try and get out of the bottom three, but they have a tough home match against second-placed Paignton this weekend.

Due to the weather the Ashes have not played a game since January 10 so they will be desperate to get a fixture.

And although Paignton are pushing for promotion, Saltash will know they pushed them all the way in south Devon back in October, narrowly losing 36-33.

The last three league meetings between the sides have all been decided by just one score, with Saltash winning 17-15 the last time they met them at Moorlands Lane eight years ago.

COUNTIES TWO DEVON

THE action in Counties Two Devon gets underway on Friday night when leaders Devonport Services II host second-from-bottom Ivybridge II at the Rectory (7pm).

It will be the first of seven home games in their final nine fixtures for Services II, who are desperate to secure promotion to Western West after narrowly missing out the last couple of years.

“The twos are pretty strong,” said Services head coach Ben Russell ahead of the clash. “There are a few missing, but we’ll still have a decent team out.

“It’s a nice little local derby on a Friday night and means the boys can have a weekend off.”

Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson added: “With it being on a Friday some lads can’t play, but we should have a good pack out. However, in the backs we have had to move a few lads around.”

Atkinson admits there are no real expectations on his side on Friday night with Services II sitting pretty at the top of the table.

“They are flying, so it’s not one we have really targeted,” he said. “Obviously, we’d like to get some points out of it, but there’s a few other games we have targeted.”

Ivybridge II’s next two games after Friday will be ones, they will be desperate to pick up full points from – Dartmouth and Tavistock.

Dartmouth are below them and are certain to be relegated, while Tavistock are currently just three points in front of them.

Tavistock finally have a home game this weekend when they host fifth-placed Honiton at Sandy Park.

It will only be Tavistock’s third home fixture in nearly three months and they will be keen to try and make the advantage count to pick up some valuable points.

Tavistock were heavily beaten 62-8 away at Honiton in October when they travelled with a makeshift team, so they will be keen to prove a point on Saturday.

“Honiton will bring their usual physical edge,” said Tavistock head coach Leigh Puttock. “So, it will be about matching that intensity early, winning the collisions, and building pressure through phases.

“If we get our shape right and play with tempo, we’ll give ourselves every opportunity.”

Puttock is away this weekend, while Tavistock are also missing the likes of Liam Watts, Tylo Coupland, Cam Wallace and Toby Teague, who all impressed against Exeter Saracens last weekend.

However, they are able to welcome back front-rowers Hammy Kerswell and Jai Popplewell.

“A weekend of love has certainly thrown up its own selection challenges,” said Puttock.

“With Valentine’s plans rightly taking priority for some of the lads, we’d like to take this opportunity to show a bit of love ourselves – and thank the families who give up so many Saturdays so we can represent the club.

“We genuinely appreciate the families who lend us their players week-in, week-out.

“With that in mind, there are a few changes to the side this week.

“Will White moves back from his development spell in the back-row to add some power and punch in midfield, while Rob Milligan returns at full-back to bring a calm head and steady presence at the back.”

He added: “Our tenacious open-side Harry Shaw plays his final game for a while before deploying with the Royal Marines. He’ll be missing – not just for what he brings on the pitch, but as a top lad around the group.”

With Puttock away, Martin Budden, who came on and impressed last weekend, will lead the team on Saturday.

“Martin continues to grow into a quality coach and there will be no gap left in my absence. The lads are in very safe hands,” added Puttock.

OPMs will be hoping to play their first game since January 17 when they visit bottom side Dartmouth.

The Old Boys have been hit by the weather with their last three fixtures getting postponed.

They will be big favourites against a Dartmouth side that have yet to win a game this season.

Dartmouth also pulled out of visiting King George V Playing Fields earlier in the campaign.

However, OPMs will know from past experience that they cannot afford to take Dartmouth lightly no matter what their circumstances. Last season, Dartmouth made it really tough for OPMs away and the Old Boys only triumphed 7-0.

Eighth-placed OPMs could do with a win to close the gap of seventh-placed Withycombe.

COUNTIES THREE

THE big match in Devon South & West is at Bickleigh Down where Plymouth Argaum will host city rivals Tamar Saracens.

Sarries have not played since January 10, whereas Argaum were in action last weekend in the RFU Community Cup.

Argaum are currently fourth in the table, with Sarries seventh, but they do have games in hand.

Sarries did upset Argaum earlier in the season when they won 28-7 at the Parkway.

“They beat us at their place earlier in the year so we are looking forward to this game and welcoming them here,” said Argaum head coach Dean Avery.

There is also a derby at St Mary’s Field where Plympton Victoria are due to host Plymstock Oaks II.

Oaks II sit just one place in front of second-from-bottom Plym Vic and so it should be a good game.

Plym Vic were encouraged by their performance last weekend against Old Techs.

“We take nothing for granted,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt. “First things first, we’ll look at getting enough players for a team and then look at how we can maybe construct a victory out of it.”

In-form Old Techs should have been hosting Salcombe at Weston Mill on Saturday, but the South Hams club have surprisingly handed them the walkover.

“It is a bit disappointing as we had a big Saturday planned,” said Old Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith.

“We were looking to make a day of it with the game, the chairman’s birthday celebrations and the England match, so we are a bit frustrated.

“It was a game we were really looking forward to as we lost up there and we really wanted to put in a good performance against them.”

In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II are due to visit Roseland.