DEVONPORT Services will be hoping it is third time lucky for them at home this season as they entertain Old Redcliffians at the Rectory on Saturday (2.30pm).

Services are still looking for their first win since their promotion to National Two West after five attempts – three on the road and two at home.

It took them nine attempts two years ago when they were last at level four to get their first victory, but they are hoping it might be able to come this weekend against an Old Reds side who sit in eighth spot with two wins from their opening five matches.

“We’ll be going into this weekend, really positive and will try and play our brand of rugby,” said head coach Ben Russell.

“This was one of the games we were targeting at the start of the year.”

Old Reds’ two victories have come against fellow bottom half teams Bournville and Hornets, but they have picked up five bonus points from their first five games.

“Old Reds play a nice brand of rugby. They like to move the ball a bit. When they get in dangerous areas, they like to play fast and quick,” said Russell.

Services’ head coach wants his team to be more clinical. He felt failing to take their chances in the first half cost them at Cinderford last weekend when they lost 54-33.

“Going through last week’s game at Cinderford, it was only 7-0 after 20 minutes and we had two scoring opportunities that we haven’t taken, but then we’ve made a mistake and dropped the ball and they’ve scored off nothing,” said Russell.

“In the first half we went into their 22 six times but didn’t score. In the second we did that and out-scored them four tries to three, but overall they were just more clinical and when they had opportunities they finished them.”

Services have not been helped at the start of the season by a number of injuries and unavailabilities.

Having already lost Mike Rickard, Harrison Coonick, George Pooley, Oli Symons, Jake Bond, Henry Gliddon and Callum Arnold from their opening day squad, they are now without Liam Jarvis, who is facing a number of weeks on the sidelines due to injury, James Thorpe and Cam Donkin, but Finn White should be available again after missing last week’s match at Cinderford.

“I think we counted on our unavailability list that there were 15 players who are ones or twos players who are not available this weekend,” said Russell.

“Liam Jarvis got a bad knock last week and could be out for a while – at least four weeks.”

With Rickard and Jarvis out, Services will be relying on summer signing Lewis Woolaway to call their line-outs.

“He has been absolutely brilliant and been our most consistent player so far,” said Russell on Woolaway. “He has really worked hard and has been our out-and-out best performer for us in our first five games having come from Saltash.”

Services will be remembering former club president and player Dave ‘ Tiny’ Lister on Saturday after his recent passing.

Lister was club president for 20 years and was a life member of the club.

REGIONAL TWO SOUTH WEST

IVYBRIDGE will be looking for a bumper crowd on Saturday as they host a double-header at Cross-in-Hand.

The men’s first team will host Devon rivals Teignmouth at 3.30pm in Regional Two South West after their successful women’s side play Bath in their opening home game in Championship South (1.30pm).

“It should be a good day,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson.

Ivybridge will be favourites to claim a second consecutive home win of the season against a Teignmouth side sitting bottom the table after heavy defeats away at Penzance-Newlyn and Nailsea & Backwell.

But the Bridgers will not be taking anything for granted after two tight games with Teignmouth last season. The Cross-in-Hand club won 31-26 at home, but were beaten 29-22 away at Teignmouth.

“You can’t go too much on results,” said Atkinson.

“We are not going to be taking them too lightly.

“They were near the bottom of the table last year and we went up there and they embarrassed us a bit in the first half. We managed to claw it back a bit, but the damage was done.

“And I think in the game at our home they managed to get a bonus point.

“But we are looking forward to this weekend. We are back at home and hopefully we can keep the win record going there.”

Ivybridge are set to keep a similar side to which lost down at Wadebridge last weekend, although Owen Williams and Eden Quantock are set to start in the pack.

COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST

SALTASH face one of the title favourites Paignton at Moorlands Lane on Saturday.

The south Devon club, who finished as runners-up last season, have beaten St Ives and Torquay Athletic in their opening two games of the season.

The Ashes, meanwhile, are still waiting for their first win of the new campaign after a  29-10 away defeat at much-fancied Camborne II and a narrow 33-30 home loss to St Ives last Saturday.

Saltash did push Paignton right down to the wire in both their fixtures last term. They narrowly lost 36-33 at Queen’s Park and 24-20 at Moorlands Lane in February.

Devonport Services II are also still waiting for their first win of the season in Western West.

They did draw 29-29 away at Redruth II on the opening day but last weekend were beaten 42-19 by title-hopefuls Cullompton.

This weekend they make the trip down to Cornwall to take on a Truro side who have lost their opening two games.

Truro have lost to Kingsbridge and Newton Abbot in their first two fixtures and Services II know this is a game they should be targeting. However, they are hit by unavailabilities and injuries to their first team which is having a knock-on impact to their seconds.

“There’s not going to be too many boys coming back in for this weekend,” said Services head coach Ben Russell.

“It is a bit of a shame that we will be travelling down there with a twos/threes side, but we’ll see.”

COUNTIES TWO DEVON

IT might be early in the season, but Plymstock Oaks’ home match against Honiton on Saturday already looks like it could be a vital fixture at the top of the table (2.30pm).

The two sides both have 100 per cent records after two games, with Oaks beating Brixham 52-20 and South Molton 76-28, while Honiton have triumphed 61-26 over Tavistock and 45-30 over Withycombe.

Honiton finished third last season and are again expected to be there or there abouts, while Oaks have come down from Western West in the summer and appear keen to make an instant return.

“They (Honiton) have got some good players, so we are expecting a real tough and difficult day out,” said Oaks coach Mike Lewis.

“It is certainly not one we can take lightly for sure.”

Oaks do have the advantage of playing at home.

“As we said last week, we have been fortunate to have three home games in a row, which does help us gain a bit of momentum at the start of the season,” said Lewis.

“But both us and Honiton play on a similar type of pitch – both slope slightly to one end with usually a wind going one way – I think it will be a little bit of home from home for them.

“We just know that we need to be on it for the full 80 minutes, but they will probably be saying the same thing.”

Oaks do have good availability for the big match.

“We are looking strong and we have a few selection dilemmas,” said Lewis.

“It is quite nice to have a few selection headaches, which we have had every week so far.

“Now that we basically have four coaches there are four different opinions, which I think is brilliant and it is sometimes good if we don’t all agree as we are all seeing positives in different players.

“Our backline at the moment for both the first and the second team is really difficult to get into. They are all training hard and doing phenomenal. If you have a few weeks off, then you are going to struggle to get into either side at the moment.”

OPMs are hoping to build on their victory over Tavistock last weekend when they travel to winless Brixham II on Saturday.

The Old Boys showed a clinical edge last week to score five tries against Tavistock.

But they will know it will not be easy away at Astley Park against newly-promoted Brixham II, who have had a tough start to the campaign with games against Oaks and Exmouth II.

“It’s another good chance for us,” said head coach Davy McGregor. “But we’ll just take it game by game and see what happens.

“I think we should stop looking at teams around us. I think we need to start looking at the teams above us.”

OPMs have boosted their squad with some University of Plymouth students, including Aaron Joynt, who made his debut last week.

“There was another three who couldn’t play (last week),” said McGregor:

“Those lads will add a huge lot and will add to what we have.”

Tavistock are still waiting for their first win of the season and they have a tough test on Saturday when unbeaten Exeter Saracens visit Sandy Park.

“We know we have more to give and that we need to start putting our best foot forward,” said Tavistock head coach Leigh Puttock.

“In attack, we look bright and capable of scoring tries. Defensively, however, we are too static and too often wait for the opposition to give us the ball. But we have to earn it back through pressure, concentration and sustained effort, staying switched on throughout every passage of play.

“We know we can make strong, hard-hitting tackles, but that starts with the top two inches being switched on.

“We kneed to work as a unit, trust each other and stop trying to take on the world as individuals.”

But Tavistock are not helped this weekend by missing a host of key players.

“Despite being at home, we are missing several players who made commitments for what was originally a free weekend before the fixtures that were postponed by the RFU were moved into it,” said Puttock.

“The Watts brothers (Liam and Chris), Rory Cox and Jim Wellard are unavailable, while Cam Baker, James Long and Tylo Coupland miss out through injury.

“However, we do welcome back familiar faces in Vaughan Glover and Andrew Schuttkacker, and we are really pleased to welcome Rob Pratt to the club as he returns to rugby. Ollie Plummer also returns after a week away.”

He added: “Exeter Saracens are always a tough side to break down. We know we will have to work hard for every opportunity, but this squad has the ability to rise to that challenge. We need to bring it together and deliver a performance as one.”

COUNTIES THREE

THE big game in Counties Three Devon South & West is at Bickleigh Down where Plymouth Argaum host fellow unbeaten side Ivybridge II.

Argaum have beaten Paignton II and Salcombe in their opening two matches, while Ivybridge II, who have come down from the league above, have put on big scores against Totnes and Kingsbridge II.

Ivybridge II know Saturday’s contest will be their toughest test so far.

They last time they visited Bickleigh Down, they were beaten 35-5.

“I think Argaum were fourth or fifth last year and it’s always a good one to get out of the way,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson.

“The twos is a fairly strong side this week and the boys are looking forward to that game

“We know they might have four or five big ball carriers and so we have been working on our tight ‘D’ and trying to find that transition to moving the ball around.”

Ivybridge’s team is set to include summer signings Cam Wallace and Tristan Lark as well as Hamish and Angus Harris, Matt Gilbury, Michael Jenson, Luke Martell, Owen Alp and Ryan Currie.

Argaum hope they can make their home pitch tell this weekend.

“It is a totally different ball game over here,” said Argaum head coach Martyn Hendy. “Hopefully, we can spoil their afternoon.

“We should have a few boys back. It’s all about player availability.”

Old Techs are another team with a 100 per cent record after two games.

This weekend they make the trip to Kingsbridge II, which is the start of three consecutive away games for the Weston Mill side.

After beating Dartmouth 47-18 away and seeing off Plymstock Oaks II 39-12 at home, Techs should be favourites this weekend, but they remember only too well that they got caught out at High House last year when Kingsbridge II fielded their strongest team of the year.

“I don’t think our players will have forgotten that so hopefully they won’t be going up there thinking it is going to be easier than what it is going to be,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith.

“Going away to any team is not easy.

“I think what happened last year will just give the players that little bit extra after a couple of good wins.

“Losing at Kingsbridge last year wasn’t good at the time, but it’s a good reminder for our players.

“They were on something like minus 15 points when we went up there last year, but it shows they can pull a team together and be as good as anyone else.

“We have to go up there and remember what happened and make sure we are on it to try and get another win.

“It’s the first of three games on the trot for us now.”

Techs should have Billy Evans and his son Ben available again this week after they missed the Oaks match, while Callum Jones, Ben Wheatley and Joe Cartwright could also be back.

The club have also received approval to register 17-year-old winger Bayley Fisher, who like Ben Mitchell-Evans has joined from Services colts.

“He’s another 17-year-old, which is really, really good. It’s good for the future of the club and he’s looked quite sharp in training.

“I think we are stronger as a squad this year and people are fighting for positions and places. That makes everyone want to train and that has the knock-on affect that everyone knows what they are doing rather than making phone calls trying to get people in who haven’t played or trained and don’t know the structure.”

Tamar Saracens are at home on Saturday when they host unbeaten Torquay Athletic II at the Parkway.

It should be a good match, with Sarries trying to bounce back from their narrow 22-19 away defeat to Salcombe last weekend.

“We have got three home games on the bounce now,” said Tamar Saracens’ Pete Lethbridge.

“We’ve got Torquay, Argaum and Paignton now at home, which is not an easy three games, but we just have to prepare for them the best we can.

We’ll see how we go against Torquay and take it from there.

“Unfortunately, we picked up a few injuries (last week) and so we are a bit short of backs.”

Plymstock Oaks II are still looking for their first win of the season after a tough start with away games against Paignton II and Old Techs.

This weekend, they make the trip to Totnes, who are also winless after defeats to Ivybridge II and Torquay II.

“The twos’ first three games have all been away,” said Oaks coach Mike Lewis.

“But they just need that first win.

“Everyone who plays for the second team this year has been working hard and doing the right things, but they are just young and a bit under confident at the moment.

“They just need to be a bit more wily, like Techs were last weekend

“But they are almost there. They are on the cusp of doing something brilliant. I don’t know if it will be this week, but it’s going to come very soon.”

Winless Plympton Victoria should have been visiting Salcombe this weekend, but they have had to pull out of the fixture due to availabilities.

In a statement the club said: “Unfortunately, we have had to make the difficult decision to cancel Saturday’s fixture due to a lack of available players.

“With just 11 players available to travel, we felt it would not have been fair on those lads to ask them to play the game in those circumstances.

“As a result, we will unfortunately receive a five-point deduction. It’s hugely disappointing to have to cancel a fixture just two weeks into the new season, but player welfare and making sure we can field a competitive side has to come first.

“Recruitment is a massive priority for us.

“If you’ve ever fancied giving rugby a go, are an old player thinking about returning, or know someone who might be interested — get in touch!

“You don’t have to be the finished article. Whether you’re experienced, returning after a few years out, or completely new to the game, there’s a place for you at Plympton Victoria RFC.

“We’re a friendly, social and welcoming club, both on and off the pitch.

“Let’s get the numbers up, get the squad stronger and keep moving forward together.”

In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II have a tough home game as they host unbeaten Penzance-Newlyn II at Moorlands Lane.