DEVONPORT Services head coach Ben Russell has told his team to keep believing and digging in as they head to Cinderford still looking for their first win of the season.
Services have had a tough start to life in National Two West after their promotion last term.
They have lost to Taunton, Redruth, Lymm and Hinckley in their first four games and have conceded 207 points.
But they have got three points to their name, and one win could move them up into mid-table.
“We are working hard in training and trying to improve week in, week out,” said Russell.
“Our defence was much better last week, but in attack we didn’t move the ball as well. We had several opportunities to score or put them under pressure in their half, but we’d get 30 metres out and give the ball away. We were trying to hit sixes rather than trying to build and build.
“The focus this week is to go up there and try and score tries. If we score tries and are better, you never know, we might get that win.
“Cinderford are a big team. They always find those big lads around the Forest of Dean and they also have some nice young backs now as well.
“But hopefully we go there and perform.
“We just want to get that first win under our belts. Once we do, I think the confidence will grow.
“It is hard and the lads’ heads are down a bit after the first four weeks, but we have tried to say to them that we are going in the right direction and we are improving and they just have to keep digging in.”
However, Services have been hit by a number of injuries and unavailabilities this weekend.
Key second-row Mike Rickard rolled his ankle in last week’s defeat to Hinckley and could be out for four weeks, while fellow forwards Fin White and Charlie Crawley are on duty, Josh Martin is away until Saturday and Callum Arnold is a doubt with a knee injury.
In the backs, Harrison Coonick, Dan Lilley and Dan Goldstone are not available.
Tom Davies is set to switch from the backs and move to the back-row, while James Thorpe and Henry Gascogne are set to come into the pack, with Billy Orchard and Henry Pickett set to start in the backs.
“We have got loads missing,” said Russell. “I think we might even beat two years ago when we used 48 players.”
REGIONAL TWO SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE have another tough test to see how far they have come since last season when they visit Cornish side Wadebridge Camels on Saturday.
Wadebridge finished third in the table last year and beat Ivybridge 29-8 down Egloshayle Road in March, although the Cross-in-Hand club did enjoy a comfortable 45-7 home win over them.
But it was Ivybridge’s away form that cost them a top five placing last term, winning just twice on the road.
That record is something they want to improve on this term.
They will travel down to Cornwall boosted by beating last year’s runners-up Tiverton 24-22 last weekend at Cross-in-Hand.
“It was nice to get that game out of the way,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson.
“This will be another good test to see where we are in the league.
“We are really looking forward to seeing where we are at as a first XV.”
Wadebridge opened their season with a 27-19 defeat away at North Petherton, but they are known for being strong at home. Last term the Cornish club were only beaten twice all season at home.
Ivybridge do have to make a couple of changes to last week’s team.
Matt Grieveson comes into the backline at centre with Angus Harris missing and Alex Garner is set to replace Marcus Prout in the forwards.
Tristan Lark and Eden Quantock are added to the bench for the trip over the Tamar.
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
SALTASH will be looking to pick up their first points of the season as they host old rivals St Ives at Moorlands Lane on Saturday in Western West (3pm).
The Ashes battled hard last week but were beaten 29-10 by a highly-experienced Camborne II side away.
However, they will have taken some confidence from that performance and will be keen to put on a display in their first home match of the 2026-27 campaign.
They are having their VPs lunch on Saturday and their colts will be playing on the main pitch beforehand (11.30pm).
The Ashes did meet St Ives in the second match of last season – a game they won 36-25 on Chapel Field.
Saints are also looking for their first points after going down 22-14 at home to Paignton last week.
Saltash are set to handed a first team debut to Billy Garratt after he featured for their second team last Saturday. He is named on the bench.
The Ashes are set to make just one change to their starting line-up with Andy Walsh coming in for the unavailable Dylan Davies.
Devonport Services II face another tough away trip as they visit fellow league newcomers Cullompton on Saturday.
Last season there were two divisions between the sides as Cullompton were in Regional Two South West and Services II were in Counties Two Devon.
Cullompton certainly made their mark last weekend after their relegation by beating Barnstaple II 43-19 away.
Newly-promoted Services II picked up three points from a 29-29 draw away at Redruth II.
“It will be a tough one, but our twos will have taken so much out of going to Redruth last week and coming back to draw the match with the last play of the game,” said Services head coach Ben Russell.
“Cullompton have gone to Barnstaple II, who I think finished fourth last year, and put 40 points on them.
“They have come down from level six and it looks like they could have potentially kept most of their players and might be looking to go straight back up.”
Services have a number of injuries and unavailabilties in their first team which means there could be a knock-on effect for the seconds.
“The backline will be pretty much the same, it’s just there’s a few boys missing from the forwards,” said Russell.
COUNTIES TWO DEVON
THERE’S a big game at King George V Playing Fields where OPMs host Plymouth Combination rivals Tavistock on Saturday with both clubs looking for their first win of the season.
Tavistock did pick up a try-scoring bonus point in their opening match – a 61-26 defeat at home to much-fancied Honiton.
OPMs, meanwhile, returned empty-handed from a trip to Exmouth II, losing 26-7.
Both clubs were fighting at the wrong end of the table last year and so this is a game both clubs will be looking to pick up points from.
“It will be a big game,” said OPMs head coach Davy McGregor. “It’s a VP day for us as well.
“Tavistock at home is a game we should be targeting.
“Hopefully, we will have the squad available that should have been available last week had it not been for registration and GMS issues. It should be a quite exciting squad.”
Tavistock head coach Leigh Puttock, who once held the same role at OPMs, said: “OPMs always make you earn everything you get. We know we will have to work hard, stay together and take our opportunities.
“Every fixture carries the same importance, and we want to squeeze every point we can from each performance.”
He added: “Another strong week on the training paddock has made selection tough. That competition reinforces the need to get a second team onto the pitch and give every player the opportunity to develop through match experience.
“As head coach my promise to those outside the matchday squad is that we will do everything we can to secure playing opportunities for you.
“It is pleasing to see OPMs sharing our commitment to developing players from within.”
Tavistock are without Cal Baker and Glen Fuller this week due to minor injuries, but Jim Wellard, who started his rugby journey at Sandy Park before going on to play for Topsham, makes his first start in the pack.
Oliver James keeps his place on the wing, but Maxwell Harddy is pushing him hard for the shirt.
“That competition can only drive us forward,” said Puttock.
Plymstock Oaks will be looking to make home advantage tell for the second week running as they welcome South Molton to Horsham Fields.
Oaks got their season off to a winning start last Saturday when they beat Brixham II 52-20 in front of a bumper festival crowd.
They have been given the advantage of starting their season with three home games, with Honiton due to visit Horsham Fields next weekend, and they want to make it tell.
“South Molton got a good result last Saturday against Bideford,” said Oaks coach Mike Lewis.
“I think everyone knows South Molton is a really tough place to go and play rugby, but luckily we’ve got them at home first.
“I think we prefer it that way around so that we can get our feet under the table first.
“Even though we have got three home games at the start of the season, the away games are pretty well spread. I think we have two away games back-to-back, but we haven’t got three away games in a row. So, it has been quite favourable to us.”
He added: “Last week was a real success and the boys are still buzzing from it.
“I think quite a lot of the boys had been working and helping out (with the festival) and I think they were a bit fatigued by the time it came around to game-time and we were probably off by 10-15 per cent.
“This weekend we have to get our mentality and mind-set right and we can play really good front-foot rugby. Last week we still scored nine tries, which was very good, but there were just a few uncharacteristic errors at scrum and line-out time and some dropped balls when we just over-run a few plays. It is all stuff we have been working on this week.”
Oaks are able to include summer signings Matt Neyle and Joey Pook in their squad after they missed last week’s fixtures, while Ben Hadfield is also promoted to the first team matchday 18.
COUNTIES THREE
THERE’S a big derby game in Counties Three Devon South & West where Old Techs host Plymstock Oaks II.
Techs, who finished fourth last season, got their season off to a flying start last weekend by beating Dartmouth 47-18.
Oaks II’s new-look side were unlucky as they narrowly lost 20-17 to last year’s runners-up Paignton II away.
“It’s going to be a big test for us with the amount of signings they have made over the summer,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith. “It means their second team is going to be a lot stronger so it will be a tough one.
“We were away last week and it was a tricky game but we got through it. However, we have to try and make home advantage count, but just because we are playing at home does not mean we are going to win.
“After this week we are away three weeks in a row at Kingsbridge, Paignton and Torquay. I suppose all those away games will be out of the way and they will all have to come to us later in the season. But it is certainly going to test the squad going away three weeks in a row, but we just have to focus on this one first.”
Techs do have Ollie Davey, Ollie Marks, Adam Jarrod, Connor Turner, James Bothma and Phil Flowers back in the mix after they missed last week.
“We got a selection headache but it is a good one to have,” added Bedford-Smith.
Oaks II have a mix of experience and youth in their team. The likes of Andy Porter, Stu Collyer and Dion Todd line up in their pack, while their backline includes Duncan Bibby, Olly Whitfield, Lewis Harris, Dan Jewell and Jacob Chapman.
Plymouth Argaum also have a tough home game as they welcome Paignton to Bickleigh Down.
Argaum got their season off to a winning start last weekend when they overcame Salcombe 38-21 at home.
New head coach Martyn Hendy will be hoping they can build on that victory against a team who finished second last season.
Argaum will be hoping for similar availability as last weekend.
They also hope to have Adam Walker back soon after he made his international debut for Malta recently, alongside his brother Joe.
Plympton Victoria will be eyeing some points as they welcome Kingsbridge II to St Mary’s Field.
The two clubs have had some good battles over the last few years.
Both clubs suffered heavy defeats on the opening day of the season. Kingsbridge II were beaten 76-7 at home by Ivybridge II while Plym Vic lost 77-0 at Tamar Saracens.
“I’m sure they will break their backs to try and get a good team to play us,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt.
“We have a full bench this week. We are not too bad in terms of numbers, but we had quite a big turnaround in personnel and so we are starting a bit from scratch.
“We know there is no such thing as an easy game in this league, but there are ones that we can target.
“It will be nice to play our first home game and hopefully we can give Kingsbridge a run for their money.”
Tamar Saracens have a tricky trip to Salcombe on Saturday.
Sarries were buoyed by the way they started the campaign last weekend, but they will know it is not easy to win at Salcombe.
They did lose 24-21 at Twomeads last year and they will be looking to avenge that loss.
Also, in the division this weekend, Ivybridge II host Totnes at Cross-in-Hand.
The Bridgers again name a strong side that includes the experienced Luke Martell, Matt Gilbury and Al Percival, while Matt Skeemer and Ryan Currie are named among the replacements.
In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II are set to visit Veor and are boosted by having Ryan Simmons, Charlie Knight and Danny Snook available.