PLYMSTOCK Oaks and Saltash head into their final matches of the season knowing nothing less than five points will really do if they are to have any hope of staying in Western West.
The pair, along with Penryn, are all locked in a three-way battle to avoid the two relegation spots.
All three sides sit on 42 points, but crucially Penryn do have a game in hand.
Oaks, who are currently out of the bottom two courtesy of having more wins, visit Torquay Athletic on Saturday in their final match.
Saltash will host Newton Abbot, who secured their safety the week before by beating Oaks, while Penryn will host St Ives this weekend before visiting Torquay on May 9.
“All we can do is try and get that win,” said Saltash’s director of rugby Steve Down, whose team gave themselves some hope last week by beating Penryn.
“You can see how much the players want it, so we will be going out all guns blazing.
“They (Newton Abbot) might come complacent, but you don’t really see that in this league. There are 12 teams who on their day can all win a game of rugby – and I think that has been proven.
“It is just a hell of a league and I would love us to stay in it.
“We are looking forward to the game, and we will give it our all.”
He added: “We are proud of what we have achieved. We have improved a lot as the season has gone on.
“We are learning how to win tight games. For a lot of the youngsters, it’s the first time they have played really competitive rugby.
“We came from a league where we were really dominating and they haven’t had this exposure and experience, so it is really good for them.
“We know we are up against it, but we’ll just see what happens.”
Saltash did pick up a few knocks last week against Penryn and have goal-kicking scrum-half Jack Pritchard running the London Marathon on Sunday for Young Lives Vs Cancer, a charity close to the club’s heart.
With Pritchard away, youngster Seth Jones will start at scrum-half, while the experienced Steve Hillman and Todd Crofts are available after missing last week’s game. Simon Nance is set to make his 350th appearance for the club and Lewis Woolaway his 100th.
When the Ashes met Newton Abbot away on the opening day of the season, they were winning but the home side scored a last-gasp try to snatch a 20-15 victory. That has been one of 11 games the Ashes have lost by one single score this season.
For Oaks, they know if they do pick up five points at Torquay on Saturday then they will definitely be out of the bottom two come 5pm. Then it will be just down to what Penryn do against Torquay two weeks later after they play an RFU cup match.
“All we have to worry about is trying to get five points on Saturday,” said Oaks coach Mike Lewis.
“And then we just keep our fingers crossed.”
He added: “We had a good turn-out at training. The boys are quite excited about it.
“Some players keep an eye on the league table all the time, but some other players don’t bother and just turn up and play a game of rugby.
“I think there is more nervousness among the supporters, committee and coaches.
“Across both squads this weekend we have plenty of available to have two strong teams.
“And we just have to try and make sure everyone sticks together as a group this week.”
However, Oaks know it will not be easy to win at Torquay, who have recovered from a slow start to the season to sit in sixth spot.
The Tics’ home form is impressive and they have only lost twice at the Recreation Ground this season.
Oaks, though, did beat them 55-41 in a thriller at Horsham Fields at the start of the season.
“They have had a pretty a decent season in their first one since coming up,” said Lewis.
“But you can see how tough this league is as they won every game last season. They had hardly lost in two years but are only mid-table in this one.
“They have some quality players and they have found their form.
“We found our form a bit but then had a blip last week.”
COUNTIES TWO DEVON
DEVONPORT Services II will celebrate their league title success on Friday night when they host Tavistock at the Rectory (7pm).
Services II were crowned champions last weekend when they were handed a walkover by Dartmouth.
However, they are keen to mark the achievement in style on their home patch.
“We want to put the icing on the cake and go out with a win,” said Services head coach Ben Russell.
Devonport are not short of players available with no first team, third team or colts fixtures this weekend.
However, Russell said: “We are just trying to play everyone who has played most of the year (for the seconds).
“The backline is very good and the forwards will be a lot of young lads like usual.”
Tavistock sit in ninth place and they could drop down to third-from-bottom if they do not win and 10th-placed Crediton II beat OPMs.
However, they should be safe whatever as it is only possible for one Devon team to be relegated from the league above.
Three were relegated from Counties Two Devon last season, but that was because two Devon sides came down from Western West.
Tavistock’s coach Leigh Puttock just wants his team to go out and enjoy their final match of the season.
“At the end of a long, tough and energy-sapping season, we finish with arguably the hardest challenge in the league as we travel to the Rectory,” said Puttock.
“But with nothing to lose and no expectations place upon us, this is a free shot.
“The message is simple – get the ball in hand, play with freedom and enjoy these final moments together on the pitch this season.”
He added: “This week’s selection sees us travel without any of our promising colts, allowing them the opportunity to play their final game at age-grade level together on Saturday against OPMs. This decision is about recognising their journey and giving them the send-off they deserve.
“It’s been a season of both highs and lows – and, if we’re honest, many of those moments have been our own making.
“Away fixtures in particular have presented consistent selection challenges, preventing us from building the continuity needed at this level.
“However, there have been real positives. Watching young players develop alongside experienced campaigners has been a stand-out, and that blend will serve this club well in the seasons ahead.
“That said, rugby at this level is only going to get tougher. To compete we must continue to recruit, add quality and ambition around this group, and work hard towards consistently fielding a second team.
“With larger clubs expanding their reach, the player pool is becoming more competitive – and being on the outskirts of Plymouth adds another layer to that challenge.
“But since arriving at the club, one thing is clear: Tavistock is a sleeping force. It will come – but only if we continue to put in the work together as players, coaches and as a club.”
Tavistock are able to welcome back captain Freddie Fuller for Friday’s game, but they are missing Liam Watts and Hammy Kerswill.
OPMs will end their season with a long trip to third-from-bottom Crediton II.
The Old Boys have pulled clear of the bottom four after back-to-back wins over Ivybridge II and Topsham II.
Crediton II are likely to be strong as they are without a first team game, while OPMs picked up a number of injuries last weekend, including to fly-half Pete Regan, who dislocated his shoulder in the warm-up.
“We now can’t get relegated, which is ideal,” said head coach James Digweed.
“But we have got three wins on the bounce and want four.”
Ivybridge II are certain to finish in the bottom two. There only hope of staying up is if no Devon team comes down from Western West.
They will end their season with an away trip to Topsham II, whose first team are also at home against Brixham in a Regional One promotion play-off match.
COUNTIES THREE
OLD TECHS are guaranteed a top four finish for the second year running in Counties Three Devon South & West.
They will conclude their league season with a tough trip to second-placed Paignton II.
A win would give them a good chance of finishing third, although Torquay II, who are just behind them, do have a game in hand – away at Tamar Saracens.
Techs, though, will finish as the highest placed first team in the league and the top Plymouth Combination side.
“I would have taken top four after the start we had,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith. “We had some close results at the start that did not go our way.
“We did not really get into it until the season had started. Once it did, then everyone has trained really well.
“We will be the highest placed Plymouth team, which was one of our aims – you have to give yourselves little aims.
“Paignton II are not second in the league for no reason. They have been more consistent than us.
“Going there is a tough one, but after last week (beating Argaum 65-10), I think the lads will be really keen to keep it going, especially with a cup final coming up.
“We are going to go up on the train and make a social out of it.”
Techs are expected to have a similar side to the one that beat Argaum last week, but they could have Josh O’Hare and Lewis Harvey back.
Argaum will end their league campaign with a derby match away at Plympton Victoria.
It will be Dean Avery’s last league match as head coach.
“Hopefully we will have a stronger team out than last week,” he said. “If we do and we have a couple of ball carriers that can put us on the front foot then I’m sure we will be all right, but we didn’t have that last week.
“But I’m sure it will be a good day. It’s my last league game and hopefully, we can celebrate it with a win.”
Both Argaum and Plym Vic will be using the game to prepare for Plymouth Combination cup finals.
Argaum did beat Plym Vic 48-5 at Bickleigh Down on the opening day of the season and Plym Vic are expecting another tough test.
“Everyone seems to puts a strong team out against us,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt.
Tamar Saracens will be hoping for another home win when they host Totnes at the Parkway.
The two teams are level on points at the moment, with Sarries in seventh place and Totnes eighth.
Totnes did win the corresponding match at the start of the season 29-19 so Sarries will have a point to prove.
Although Sarries could not get a team together to visit champions Brixham II last weekend, they have won their last two home games.
And they will finish the campaign with back-to-back home matches as next weekend they will also host Torquay Athletic II.
Plymstock Oaks II will entertain Torquay Athletic II this week. They were boosted last Saturday by claiming their first win since the start of November.
In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II will end their season with a home game against bottom side Hayle at Chapel Field.