IT IS a massive weekend at the foot of Western West where the bottom four teams all play each other in crucial matches.
Just eight points separate the four of them with two games to go of the regular season.
This weekend third-from-bottom Plymstock Oaks visit fourth-from-bottom Newton Abbot, while current basement side Saltash host Penryn, who are just above them.
The Ashes will then entertain Newton Abbot in their final match of the campaign, while Oaks will visit Torquay.
The RFU are now indicating that two clubs will be relegated from the league following the conclusion of the divisions above, rather than saying a maximum of two and minimum of none as they were doing last week.
The battle to avoid those two relegation places is likely to go right down to May 9 when Penryn play Torquay in a re-arranged fixture, which is two weeks after all their rivals finish their campaigns.
Both Oaks and Saltash would be less worried about that late fixture if they could secure two wins in their final two games.
“I don’t think this weekend can get much bigger for us and for Penryn, Saltash and Newton Abbot,” said Oaks coach Mike Lewis.
Plymstock will head to Rackerhayes knowing that they beat Newton Abbot 52-29 when the sides last met in December at Horsham Fields.
“We have watched the video back from when we last played them and it was a game that was actually on a knife edge throughout,” said Lewis. “They probably missed a few chances, but so did we.
“Looking at it, we will feel we have a real good chance, but they will probably look at their video and think the same.
“We have got a great side out. We have got some good players out and everyone knows how to play now and what we need to do and how to win, but we just need the forwards to put it together, the backs to put it together, and when there are points on offer, we just need to take them.”
Lewis expects Newton Abbot will get a good crowd for their last home match.
“When it’s a town and it’s near enough the only rugby club in it, although there is New Cross, for games like this they are going to get good crowds, and it adds to the occasion,” he said.
“And it’s great when there is a few hundred people wanting to watch.
“There is going to be pressure on both teams.”
Oaks beat second-placed Paignton last weekend and they have named a similar side for Saturday’s trip to Newton Abbot.
Lewie Riley is injured and Jake Parkes is back at university, so Charlie Watson and Josh Waters come into the starting line-up for their only changes.
Saltash know they will move off the bottom if they could beat Penryn for a second time this season.
The Ashes beat their Cornish rivals 33-12 away in December and Penryn have only won once on their travels this term, although they will go into Saturday’s game at Moorlands Lane on the back of two consecutive home victories.
Saltash nearly became the first team to beat Truro away last weekend, but conceded a last-gasp converted try to lose 40-34. However, the Ashes have won their last two home games and are hoping for a bumper crowd on Saturday, with their women playing Falmouth beforehand.
COUNTIES TWO DEVON
DEVONPORT Services II have been crowned Counties Two Devon champions after bottom side Dartmouth handed them a walkover.
It means their second team will be playing in Western West next season, while their first team have also been promoted to National Two West after winning the Regional One South West title.
“It’s not the way you want to win it,” said head coach Ben Russell on this weekend’s walkover.
“However, I think we have known for a while if we kept doing what we have been doing that we would win the league.
“It has been a fantastic season for the club, with the ones and the two winning both their leagues and the twos also winning the Devon cup.
“It is a credit to all those people who help out in the background and the coaches, but most of all the players. They have all just bought into everything we have wanted.
“It has been a full squad effort. For everyone it has been a fantastic year.”
At the other end of the table both OPMs and Tavistock should be safe sitting in eighth and ninth places respectively.
Neither can finish in the bottom two, but they both just want to avoid finishing third-from-bottom just in case three are relegated like last season. However, the previous two years it was only two.
“While there’s plenty of noise around the league about how the season will finish – who goes down and how – there’s one thing we do know: South Molton are a very good side,” said Tavistock head coach Leigh Puttock.
“But so are we. We’ve shown all season that we can compete with – and beat – the majority of teams in this league.
“What Tavistock will always bring is heart, fight and physicality, but there is real quality in this group as well.
“If we get the top three inches right and stay switched on, it takes one hell of a team to break us down.”
He added: “For us, it’s simple: fast start and no fear. We can’t give them too much respect. We have to play with structure, energy and intent for 80 minutes.
“This is a big one for the club and hopefully we get a crowd to bring the noise.”
Tavistock are without captain Freddie Fuller due to illness, but they are able to welcome back Andrew Schuttkacker, while Martin Budden returns to the back-row after playing centre last week at Bideford. Richard Cann continues as captain in Fuller’s absence.
OPMs also play their final home match when they host the inconsistent Topsham II at King George V Playing Fields.
The Old Boys guaranteed not finishing in the bottom two last weekend by beating Ivybridge II 33-5 at Cross-in-Hand.
“We’ve got Topsham and hopefully we can get a result,” said head coach James Digweed, who wants his team to try and finish with three consecutive wins.
Ivybridge II know they are facing relegation as they are unable to finish outside the bottom two after last week’s loss to OPMs.
This weekend they visit seventh-placed Withycombe, who they did beat at Cross-in-Hand in December.
With no first team match, Ivybridge have named a strong second team, which includes Matt Finn, Adam Lilley and James Cantin, as well as Matt Grieveson, Hamish Harris, Alex Garner and coach James Sloan. Their colts are playing Barnstaple in the Devon Cup final at Sidmouth on the same day.
COUNTIES THREE DEVON SOUTH & WEST
OLD Techs will play their first home game since January 10 when city rivals Plymouth Argaum visit Weston Mill in the penultimate league weekend of the season.
Due to two walkovers and blank weekends, Techs have been deprived of home comforts for more than three months.
But they are looking forward to getting back out on their own pitch and trying to make up for last weekend’s disappointing defeat to a strong Kingsbridge II side.
“It was a bit frustrating last week,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith. “But we should have played better.
“If we want to beat Argaum then we have to pick ourselves up.
“It is one-all with us this season. They tanked us at our place in the National Cup, but we turned it around and beat them at their place at Christmas.
“It should be an interesting game. It is always good to play the likes of Argaum and Sarries in derby games more than anyone else. We are also just one team clubs, so it is always a fair contest.
“We both have cup finals to look forward to and so we will both want to win to get some momentum.
“And it’s nice to finally have a home game. It is our first since January 10. You shouldn’t go three months without a home game, but we had a couple of walkovers. That’s a bit frustrating when we always travel to everyone.
“We’re just looking forward to Saturday. It is always a hard fourth and good game against them.”
Argaum head coach Dean Avery said: “They beat us at home and surprised us a bit. They bullied us around the field, so I will be looking for the guys to man-up this time around.
“It is at their place and it’s always a difficult place to go, but that can bring the best out of players.
“Dan Smith should be returning. Tom Holliday was back last week. Hopefully, having them together can help put us on the front foot.”
Tamar Saracens, who beat Salcombe last weekend, face a tough task on Saturday when they visit champions Brixham II.
“We’ve had a couple of wins now at home so we want to build on that,” said Saracens captain Adam Corbett. “We just have to try and push them as well as we can.”
Plymstock Oaks II have named former Plymouth Albion players Will James and Dan Parkes in their second team to host Totnes at Horsham Fields.
Second-row James starred in the Premiership with Gloucester and was in Wales 2007 World Cup squad but has now returned to his hometown of Plymouth and is part of the Devon coaching staff.
“They have a vets tour coming up and need some rugby so they are going to play for the twos on Saturday,” said Oaks coach Mike Lewis.
“They came training on Tuesday and it was good experience for the younger lads.”
Plympton Victoria have a big home game against fellow strugglers Kingsbridge II.
They will both go into the game sitting on minus three points, although Plym Vic have fulfilled all-but two of their matches this season, unlike Kingsbridge II, who have handed out five walkovers.
Kingsbridge II were stronger last weekend as they did not have a colts fixture and blooded a host of their youngsters in their first team.
Plym Vic drew 21-21 with Kingsbridge II away in December and they would love to beat them this weekend to try and avoid finishing bottom.
“This is normally a game we do well in,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt. “It’s normally a pretty nip and tuck fixture with Kingsbridge II.
“But we’ll have to see what they turn up with.
“We’ve got a team and a couple of subs and it’s nice to be at home as we’ve not had a home game for a few weeks.
“We are just looking to hopefully put in the best performance we can ahead of our cup final.”