DEVONPORT Services make the short trip across the Tamar on Saturday to take on Launceston knowing a win could virtually seal them the Regional One South West title.
Services are six points clear of second-placed Topsham with just three games to go – and their title rivals have a tough match against Exmouth this weekend.
But a trip to Polson Bridge is not an easy proposition and Services head coach Ben Russell knows eighth-placed Launceston would love to upset their title hopes.
“We know they will be gunning for us,” said Russell.
“But we have been a lot better since we lost that Brixham game.
“If you look at the last two games we have played – Exmouth and Topsham – we were at our best as we knew we had to be. When the boys need to, they really dig in.”
He added: “It might be still a bit muddy (at Polson Bridge), but we should be able to play our rugby – and that is what we are going to try and do. We just want to keep moving the ball around.
“If we win this one then we know we just have to beat Marlborough, who will be coming to us.”
Services are set to keep the same starting team which beat Topsham last time out.
However, they will have to make changes on the bench as Harrison Coonick and Harri Hayman both pulled up in training on Thursday night.
Their injuries and other unavailabilities, mean that youngsters Ben Whysall and Nathan Todd are set to earn debut call-ups for the first team squad.
It could be a big weekend for Services as their second team could virtually clinch the Counties Two Devon title, if they were to win at third-placed Bideford.
“If we are both able to win this weekend then it would go a long way to a double promotion, but we have to win both,” said Russell.
REGIONAL TWO SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE are targeting any points possible from their tough trip to Cornwall to take on third-placed Wadebridge in Regional Two South West.
The sixth-placed Bridgers put themselves back in the play-off race by beating Wellington away last weekend.
They are set to name a similar side to last Saturday, although they are able to welcome the return of Adam Lilley, Matt Finn and Will Johnson.
Young hooker Owen Williams has gone travelling, so Owen Garner is set to wear the number two shirt in Cornwall.
“We are looking forward to Saturday,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson. “It should be a good game.
“We don’t have many changes this week, but Owen Williams has gone to meet the other young lads travelling in Asia.
“We’ve been working more on the defensive side this week as we know what Wadebridge will bring with their forwards, so we’ve made a few adjustments, but not too many now it’s nearly the end of the season.
“Hopefully, we can pick up some points, whether that’s a win or a couple of bonus points.
“We know how hard a place it is to go down to Wadebridge, so coming back with anything will do us well in the play-off race – and hopefully a couple of other results go our way.”
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
PLYMSTOCK Oaks will want to make home advantage count this weekend when they host Kingsbridge in a vital Western West match.
Oaks find themselves third from bottom in a tight table, just three points above Penryn and Saltash, who currently fill the bottom two slots.
With Penryn, Saltash and fourth-from-bottom Newton Abbot all having tough away trips this weekend, Oaks know they need to try and pick up some points at home.
“These games are getting bigger and bigger each week,” said Oaks coach Mike Lewis.
“It is still in our hands at the minute as we are three points ahead of the bottom two.
“But I think we need two or three wins to stay up. Penryn have found a bit of form and Saltash are just knocking at the door against every team they play. They are so resilient, which is the same as us really.”
Kingsbridge will arrive at Horsham Fields sitting fifth in the table. They were third a few weeks ago but have lost their last three games to Saltash, Paignton and Wiveliscombe.
Oaks and Kingsbridge have had some good battles in recent years and results have tended to go with the home side.
Kingsbridge won the corresponding game this season at High House 38-12.
“When we played them up there, we just weren’t quite at the races,” said Lewis.
“They (Kingsbridge) were the better side on the day. Our scrummaging wasn’t good enough, we threw a few not straight in the line-out and, although we tried to play a bit of rugby, we just didn’t test them enough.
“Hopefully, this week, we can play a bit more with our heads up and see what is in front of us, instead of been a bit too robotic, like we were up there.
“We have said it all season, but there were five or six games we should have won.
“Going up there, we were hoping to win. That one was not one we felt we should have won, but we could have won, but we just didn’t travel very well and heads just weren’t right.”
Oaks have been struggling badly with injuries in recent weeks. They do have 18 players out this weekend.
“We have got plenty of injuries going into this weekend unfortunately,” said Lewis. “The second team picked up quite a few last week as well, which is not helping towards our depth. But, all things considered, we should have a decent side out.
“And when you are struggling a little bit, sometimes that can bring people closer together. Hopefully, that is what it does to us this weekend.”
Saltash, who really boosted their hopes of staying up by beating Kingsbridge 37-26 last weekend, face a tough trip to third-placed Barnstaple II on Saturday.
Barnstaple II have an impressive home record, although Saltash will take heart that they pushed them all the way in November at Moorlands Lane before narrowly losing 21-19.
Out of their five remaining matches, this weekend’s trip to north Devon is probably the toughest of the lot. Their main focus is likely to be on their big home games against Redruth II, Penryn and Newton Abbot.
Saltash are without Will Morton, Lewis Wells, Dylan Davies, Tom Horban and Axel Hicks this weekend. Fin Jones will start at hooker, with James Sutton and Charlie Knight coming back into the back and Todd Crofts and Ethan Stone coming into the backs.
COUNTIES TWO DEVON
LEADERS Devonport Services II make their final away trip of the season in Counties Two Devon as they visit third-placed Bideford.
If Services II could win, then they would almost be certain to win the title.
They are currently 12 points clear of second-placed Honiton and 15 in front of Bideford with just five games to go.
Services II have been in fine form since losing to Honiton in January. They put 101 points on OPMs last weekend, scored 57 against Crediton II, 82 against Topsham II and 78 against Ivybridge II.
“The way the twos are playing, for teams to beat us at the moment they have to score at least five or six tries because we are scoring tries,” said Services head coach Ben Russell.
“But Bideford away will be tough. They are at home, it’s their VP day, they drew with us at our place, but we’ll see.
“It is a big one and this could be the most successful league season the club have had.”
Services II will be missing Ben Whysall and Nathan Todd, who have been promoted to the first team, Toby Knowles, Matt Neyle and Sam Fincham.
But they should be able to welcome back Kyle Felton, Henry Cascoyne, Ethan Hilland, Yianni Costas, Reece de Jersey and possibly Elliott Pocknell.
Tavistock will be looking to make it three wins a row when they host fourth-placed Topsham II at Moorlands Lane.
Topsham II were pushing for the title until the start of February, but then suffered three defeats in a row. However, they did return to winning ways in their last outing by beating bottom side Dartmouth 65-5.
Topsham did beat Tavistock 62-17 away in November, so the home club will have a point to prove on Saturday.
“After a frustrating week off, it’s fair to say, we’re itching to get back out there,” said Tavistock head coach Leigh Puttock.
“We had started to build some real momentum, so the break wasn’t ideal – but now the focus is firmly on picking up where we left off. The message is simple: Same belief, same energy and same intent.”
He added: “We know Topsham are a serious side on their day, but for us, it’s about squeezing every possible point out of the remaining games and continuing to build.”
Tavistock are missing forwards Vaughan Glover, Hammy Kerswill and Harry Ball, but they do have Andrew Schuttkacker available and he will play in his favourite number eight role, supported by young flankers Will White and Joel Shears.
Calum Baker will take over at hooker and Leo Mitchell will come into the second row, while Josh Bloye is back at loose-head prop after a frustrating spell with injury.
Their backline is set to remain settled, with youngsters Maxwell Haddy and Oliver James earning places on the bench.
“They have fully earned their spots after making big impacts against OPMs,” said Puttock. “Rory Cox would have been right in the mix again after a stand-out performance against Ivybridge, but he’s away competing in a triathlong.
“Joel (Shears), Maxwell, Oliver and Rory are clear examples that this club has a bright future.”
OPMs have Tavistock breathing down their necks now. Just one place and one point separate the sides.
OPMs are eighth, but they have lost their last four league and cup games and face a tough game against second-placed Honiton at home on Saturday.
“They are travelling to us and hopefully we will have a better side out,” said OPMs head coach James Digweed, who has struggled for availability in recent weeks.
A makeshift OPMs side lost 101-0 to Devonport Services II last weekend, while the previous week they were beaten 64-27 away at Exeter Saracens with another weakened side.
Ivybridge II are going to struggle to get out of the bottom two with just five games to go. They are 11 points behind third-from-bottom Crediton II.
This weekend, Ivybridge II host Exeter Saracens at Cross-in-Hand hoping to cause a bit of an upset.
“The twos will have a strong side out this week,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson.
“We’ve had 45 to chose from with the addition of five second-year colts who’ve been training with us for the last couple of weeks.
“They are now available to play so I think there may be two or three in the 18 on Saturday to give them a run out and see what they’ve got.
“I’ve been very impressed with all of them so far, so hopefully they will enjoy their first senior game and maybe get another one under their belt before they go back to their Devon Cup semi-final in a few weeks.
“It is ideal really as it gives us a chance to have a look at them and also gives a couple of the colts fringe players a chance at a couple of games now.”
COUNTIES THREE
THE big match in Devon South & West on Saturday is at the Parkway where Tamar Saracens entertain their nearest neighbours Old Techs.
Sarries are combining the game with their annual old boys’ day and so are hopeful of a good crowd.
Third-placed Old Techs will have a point to prove after suffering a last-gasp 29-26 defeat to eighth-placed Sarries at home in November.
“They beat us down at our place with the last kick of the game,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith.
“They basically had a few chances but took them all, whereas we had plenty of possession but did not make it tell.
“It was one of those tight local derbies – and we don’t expect much different this time around.
“We know it will be a close game, but hopefully, we can come out on the right side of it this time.
“We can’t have any expectations that we are just going to win just because we are above them in the table as it is a derby game and it is always tough against any local opposition.”
Techs hope to have Brett Tunnicliffe, Eddie Ramazani and Benny Hill back in the squad, but Dave Thomas is facing a lengthy spell out of the game after badly dislocating and breaking his ankle against Brixham in their last outing.
There is also a derby at Bickleigh Down where fourth-placed Plymouth Argaum will play third-from-bottom Plymstock Oaks II.
Oaks are struggling to get a team out due to injuries, but they are determined to try and travel and Argaum have said they are prepared to play a ‘game-on’ match like they did against Kingsbridge II recently.
Argaum are holding their annual cubs day so hope to have a big crowd for the contest.
“What happens, all our juniors are invited to come a couple of hours before kick-off and the senior players take them for training before going to get changed an hour before the game,” said Argaum head coach Dean Avery, who also leads the club’s under-nines.
“It is about the senior players giving back. It should mean we have a lot of the youngsters staying around to watch the game.
“It is really important for a club like us to have a youth set-up.”
Plympton Victoria will visit Totnes on Saturday boosted by their first win of the season last weekend.
Plym Vic beat Oaks II 22-12 at St Mary’s Field.
An away trip to Totnes will be a tough test. Totnes have proved inconsistent this season, but did beat Plym Vic 29-0 away earlier in the season.
In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II are due to host St Agnes at Moorlands Lane.