ALREADY crowned champions Devonport Services will end their successful season on Saturday with an away game against ninth-placed Sidmouth.

Services head coach Ben Russell says his side want to go out on a high and finish with more points than they did when they won the title two years ago.

That season they bagged 94 points, while they are currently sat on 92 points.

However, they will go into Saturday’s game against a Sidmouth team desperate for a win to avoid the relegation play-offs without a host of players.

Matt Gregory has retired and has gone away on holiday, Mike Rickard has an infection in his leg, James McFarlane has broken a bone in his hand, James Hocking is out with a knee injury, Sam Brown has a shoulder injury, Elliott Pocknell has been ill, Toby Knowles is away and Ben Whysall and Dan Lilley are also doubts.

It means Josh Martin, Nathan Todd and Henry Gascoyne could all gets starts.

“We are struggling a bit with availability,” admitted Russell. “And we don’t want to nick too many boys from the twos as they need to win the league, but we might have to.”

He added: “We don’t want to end on a defeat as we want to be better than we were two years ago.

“I think from a 22-game season, we could potentially end up with the most points ever, if we win the final game.

“But they (Sidmouth) need to win and try and get more points than Launceston so they are going to be gunning for it.”

REGIONAL TWO SOUTH WEST

IVYBRIDGE head coach Steve Atkinson admits their final league match of the season away at Winscombe will be like a ‘cup final’.

The Bridgers are one of three teams who could secure the final place in the end of the season play-offs.

They currently sit one place and three points outside the play-off zone, with Crediton filling the last spot.

However, Crediton have a tough away game against unbeaten champions Weston-super-Mare on Saturday.

If Crediton lose, then the final play-off place will go to either Ivybridge or Winscombe.

Just one point separates the two teams and so Saturday’s match could become a straight shoot-out between the two sides for the final play-off place.

“Everyone who is available is excited,” said Atkinson.

“I would like to think Weston will go full strength they will want that 100 per cent record. They seem quite committed to winning so I can’t believe they will field a weakened side.

“It is quite a good position for us to be in with Crediton playing them. I think Weston have got a bonus point win every game and so they will want to go for it.

“We have just said to the lads to treat it as a cup final and a straight shoot-out and just see what happens.”

Promotion back to Regional One this season was not on Ivybridge’s agenda at the start of the term, but getting into the play-offs would extend their season longer.

“The club do have a three to five-year plan,” said Atkinson.

“But from a players’ and coaching perspective we all just want to win.

“After the game there is nobody in the bar going ‘yeah but we don’t really want to get promoted’.

“Every lad who has played predominately ones wants to get in the play-offs and give it a good go.

“Most of our lads just want to play rugby.”

Ivybridge do have two massive matches this weekend as their second team host OPMs in a clash to try and avoid relegation from Counties Two Devon.

They also do have a few players away due to the Easter holidays.

“It is a bit of a weird week as we want to keep the twos as strong as we can, but we also have chance of the play-offs with the ones,” he said.

“It is a really strange situation to be in, having two teams battling – one at one end and the other at the other.”

COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST

THE battle to try and avoid relegation from Western West continues on Saturday with some crucial matches.

Two of the bottom four – Newton Abbot and Penryn – meet each other, while Plymstock Oaks host second-placed Paignton at Horsham Fields and Saltash travel to fifth-placed Truro.

For Saltash it is their final away match of the season. They will end their season with home games against Penryn and Newton Abbot, which will give them hope of escaping the drop whatever happens this weekend.

Oaks will end their campaign with two away games – at Newton Abbot and Torquay – and so they are keen to put on a show at home on Saturday and upset Paignton.

Paignton need to win this weekend and hope that Wiveliscombe lose to have any hope of sneaking the title.

“We are at home, it is our last home game of the season, it’s our VPs day and it looks like it is going to be nice weather, so it sets it up nicely,” said Oaks coach Mike Lewis.

“We know they (Paignton) will be looking for an away victory to keep the pressure on.

“I think they could still win the title, although Wiveliscombe are a bit out of reach and will need to slip-up, but Paignton will want to finish on a high.

“When we played them up there, we did really well in spells, but we just didn’t defend well enough and let in a few easy tries and our heads dropped a bit then.”

He added: “No-one really expected us to beat Kingsbridge in our last home game. We knew we could, but league positions suggested we probably should not have done.

“I don’t think Paignton are that much better than Kingsbridge. They maybe have a few quicker players out-wide and a couple of bigger players through the middle, but in terms of the way they play, they are not too much different.”

He added: “We have got a lot back this week, which gives us a bit more depth, which means the twos can go with a reasonable side to Paignton II.”

Among those back are Lewie Riley, who has not played since injuring his knee at the start of the season, Alex Chapman, Lewis Paterson, Jake Parkes, Joel Moran, Charlie Watson and Alfie Upton.

Saltash will be looking to cause a little bit of an upset against Truro away.

The Ashes should have really beaten them at home in December. They eventually lost a thrilling game 35-29. That match came down to goal-kicks with Truro converting all their tries that day to sneak the win.

Saltash are boosted by having a strong squad to make the trip to St Clement’s Hill.

Prop Liall Honey is back for the first time since February after picking up a knee injury against Plymstock Oaks. Tom Horban is also back in the pack, while Will Morton, Jay Moriarty and Ryan Cruickshanks are available in the backs.

Axel Nicks and Lewis Wells are unavailable and Fin Jones will return to hooker from the back-row.

COUNTIES TWO DEVON

THERE is a massive match at Cross-in-Hand on Saturday in Counties Two Devon with Ivybridge II hosting OPMs.

Both teams will be desperate for the win to try and avoid relegation.

Ivybridge II know they have to try and secure five points to stay up, but if they did do that then it would leave OPMs in real danger.

Currently OPMs sit third-from-bottom and are nine points ahead of second-from-bottom Ivybridge II with three games to go.

But that gap could be reduced to just four points this weekend if the Bridgers’ second team were to win.

“We know we have to get the result,” said OPMs head coach James Digweed. “What we do with the rest of our season is down to us.

“It will be a difficult one – Ivybridge away is always difficult – but we will be prepared.”

Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson said: “We are at home, which is always good as we know how to play the pitch. We’ll just see what happens.

“We have a fairly strong side out, but maybe with a few lads in different positions.

“We have got one or two of the older lads – well, I call them older but they are only 30 years-old – but they have been training with us the last couple of weeks and are keen to play. But predominately it will be the same lads who have played week-in, week-out.”

The ‘older lads’ that are set to play include Matt Grieveson, George Wilson, Harrison Legge and Charlie Briant. They will be surrounded by some of the clubs younger players like Connor Archer, Josh Hughes, Leo Spencer and Harry Towle.

Tavistock moved clear of the relegation places last time out when they beat Crediton II 36-7 at home.

That win saw them go 13 points clear of second-from-bottom Ivybridge II with three games to go.

However, they have a tough trip this weekend when they visit third-placed Bideford, who have got an impressive home record.

“Off the back of another momentum-halting break over the Easter period, we now face a tough trip to north Devon to play an in-form Bideford side,” said Tavistock head coach Leigh Puttock.

“As we head into the final stretch of the season, the message remains the same – we must squeeze everything out of every single game.

“And the only way we do that is by playing with no fear.

“Not everything will go our way, but our mindset has to be ‘relentless: get up, go again, and execute the next task with precision’. Small moments done well will build into big moments that win games.”

Tavistock are set to welcome back Jai Popplewell, who Puttock says ‘has been a huge presence for us this season’. However, they will be without Andrew Schuttkacker, Liam Watts and Freddie Fuller.

“As always absences create opportunities,” said Puttock.

“Rory Cox continues his development in the second-row and he is joined by two exciting young players stepping up from the colts. Billy Sherman comes in at six, bringing energy and physicality, while Oliver James adds pace and attacking threat on the wing.

“Maxwell Haddy was right in contention after a strong start to his senior rugby career, but with a slight niggle, we’ve opted to use him as impact from the bench. Joel Shears also earns his place in the matchday squad.

“We also welcome a debutant in James Long, who covers the front-row. Having returned to the game after some time away, he is already showing that he will be a real asset to the club.”

He added: “Richard Cann, who is proving himself week-in, week-out as one of the stand-out props in this league, will once again lead the side from the front.”

Puttock also revealed the club are already looking towards next season.

“Rob Milligan has now played his final game of the season and I have asked him to step into the coaching team next year to take control of the backs,” said Puttock.

“He has a real rugby brain, and I am looking forward to working with him, alongside forwards coach Martin Budden. Both will be pushing myself and the squad forward while putting their stamp on how we play.”

At the other end of the Counties Two Devon table, Devonport Services II could be crowned champions if they beat Withycombe at home and Honiton do not pick up a full five points away at Topsham II.

With three games to go, Services are nine points clear at the top of the standings with three home matches to end on.

Their remaining games after this weekend are against Dartmouth and Tavistock.

“We need one win and we have three games to get it,” said Services head coach Ben Russell. “But it is a big one this weekend.

“It’s just unfortunate we have a load of injuries.”

Josh Martin, Nathan Todd and Henry Gascoyne are set to be called up for the first team, while Ethan Hilland is out with a broken bone in his hand, Aaron Duffield has an injured ankle, while Freddie Dover is still out having had an operation on his hand previously and Aiden Taylor and Toby Knowles are unavailable.

When Services played Withycombe away earlier in the season they narrowly edged the win 43-40.

COUNTIES THREE DEVON SOUTH & WEST

DEAN AVERY is hoping to end his four-year stay as Plymouth Argaum’s head coach on a high.

Avery has announced this week that he will be stepping back from the role, but he is hoping for a big finish with league games against Torquay Athletic II, Old Techs and Plympton Victoria to look forward to and a Lockie Cup final against Devonport Services II.

“I am going to be standing down at the end of the season,” said Avery.

“I’ve done four full seasons and I have really enjoyed it.

“We have a great bunch of players and I am really attached to the club, but I have work and children and I have found the commitment quite hard. We have struggled for players recently and I have been trying to chase a team together.

“I have been there four years now and maybe the club needs a new voice.

“But I still very much plan to stay attached to the club. I am leaving on good terms and I am going to help the transition.”

He added: “We have got so many players in the club, but it is just about bringing them back. Hopefully, whoever the new face is, they can do that.

“But I want to go out with a bang – and I might put my boots on a few more times yet this season.

“We’ve got some good fixtures to end with.

“We’ve got Torquay coming to us this Saturday. I’m not quite sure what they are going to bring.

“We are missing Dan Smith this weekend, but we should have Tom Holliday back, which will be a big bonus. We also have Jake Turfery available and we should have a reasonably strong team.

“Then we have Old Techs, Plym Vic and a final in the Lockie Cup on Bank Holiday Monday.”

Argaum should finish in the top five and if they could beat Torquay this weekend then it would also help Old Techs’ hopes of matching last season’s third-placed finish.

Techs are currently four points ahead of fourth-placed Torquay, but the Tics do have two games in hand.

Techs visit bottom side Kingsbridge II this weekend, wary that their hosts could be boosted by some of their talented colts.

“They haven’t got a colts game this weekend so we are expecting a tough game,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith.

“Going up to Kingsbridge is never easy.

“I don’t think we have actually been up there since they joined the league, but I have played there before and it is always a tough place to go.

“We have got five or six missing this week. It is just that time of the year.”

Ollie Davey and Jenson Baker are among those missing. The influential Davey may miss the rest of the season with an injury he picked up against Tamar Saracens. However, Techs should have Ryan Smith back.

Techs have only lost one of their last eight games – against table-toppers Brixham – and are hopeful they can finish third again this term.

“We did have a poor start to the season, but, fair play to the lads, they have turned it around,” said Bedford-Smith.

“We lost a few tight games at the start, when maybe had we worked a bit harder in pre-season, we could have won them. It just took us a few months to get into this season.

“After this weekend we have Argaum and Paignton II, both teams around us, and then we finish the season off with a cup final.”

Tamar Saracens will also be targeting a strong finish in the division.

They currently sit in eighth spot but could move up to sixth with four games remaining – two of which are against the two teams just above them.

This weekend they host sixth-placed Salcombe at the Parkway. Salcombe are six points ahead of them, but they have played two more games.

Sarries go into the game boosted by a 53-14 win over Plympton Victoria in their last outing.

Plym Vic are without a league game this weekend, while Plymstock Oaks II travel to Paignton II.

In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II are due to visit already-crowned champions St Agnes, who they only played three weeks ago at home.