IVYBRIDGE will be looking to get back to winning ways when they visit winless bottom side Wellington on Saturday in Regional Two South West.
The game was postponed three times before and so the two clubs will now meet twice in their final four fixtures.
Ivybridge will know if they can win both and beat either Wadebridge or Winscombe away they will still have a good chance of making the play-offs.
But they will need to find the winning formula again after three consecutive losses.
“We’ve had a tough couple of weeks really,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson. “But we have still played some good rugby at times – it’s just been down to availability.
“I think we have 19 out of 44 available this weekend, but I think we only have four changes to the starting line-up and one on the bench.
“We do have a solid front-row out, so we should be all right
“But we are not going to be going into the game on Saturday thinking it is going to be an easy five points as if we do that then we will come unstuck.”
Atkinson added: “With this being a rearranged weekend players booked it off, but it is what it is.
“However, we are still getting lads to training which is the main thing. That’s the marker for me.
“If training starts going below 20 then I would say there is a problem, but we are still getting 30-odd to training so that one good thing. We just have to try and stop them bookings things in!”
He continued: “We’ve got Wellington away, Wadebridge away, Wellington at home and Winscombe away.
“Hopefully we can get a win against Wellington. Wadebridge will be tough but we are targeting points there. Then we have Wellington at home and we’ll definitely be hopeful of getting something out of that and then we go to Winscombe, who are up and down so maybe they have availability issues as well but as it’s the last game I’m sure they will be firing.”
Saltash will be desperate for some points on Saturday when they host fifth-placed Kingsbridge at Moorlands Lane.
Saltash remain at the foot of the table after losing 10 league games in Western West this season by just one single score.
In the last two weeks they have been beaten 29-28 by Torquay and 29-27 by Plymstock Oaks, who scored a last-gasp penalty to win.
Although losing both matches was painful, they will have taken heart from their play at times.
They out-scored Oaks five tries to three and dominated the second half against Torquay.
They will also know they pushed Kingsbridge hard away before narrowly losing 27-22.
Kingsbridge, coached by former Tavistock chief Joel Caddy, were in third a couple of weeks ago but have dropped down a couple of places after losing to high-flying Paignton and Wiveliscombe.
In Counties Two Devon, leaders Devonport Services II can move another step closer to the title if they can beat city rivals OPMs away on Saturday (1pm).
Services are currently 10 points clear with a game in hand on their main rivals and it would be a major surprise now if they didn’t win the title and promotion.
OPMs, though, need a win themselves after dropping down to ninth in the standings with defeats against Exeter Saracens and Tavistock in the last couple of weeks.
“We have a tough run coming up, but it will show our character,” said OPMs coach James Digweed. “We have Services at home, then Honiton at home before going to Withycombe.”
He added: “Last season both games against Services were tight. One game we were winning and the referee got injured and when we replayed it we were winning up until 73 minutes, but the first game we played against them this season we got pumped. So, you just never know.”
There is a busy programme in Counties Three Devon South & West with Plymouth Argaum, Tamar Saracens, Plympton Victoria and Plymstock Oak II all due to be in action on Saturday
Argaum, currently fourth, visit sixth-placed Totnes.
“Totnes could not get a team together to go to Old Techs last week, but I’m sure they will be looking to put the right,” said Argaum head coach Dean Avery.
“We want to be pushing to finish above Paignton II and Old Techs so there’s plenty to play for.
“It is a bit of a worry as it is a rearranged weekend and it is the men’s day out and Super Saturday, but we have always managed to find a team.”
Tamar Saracens, who were unable to get a team to travel to Torquay last weekend, are due to host struggling Kingsbridge II at the Parkway, while Plympton Victoria are set to host Oaks II at St Mary’s Field.
Oaks II could be stronger than in recent games with no first team match, while Plympton say their main focus is the Pedrick Cup final at the end of the season.
