DEVONPORT Services head coach Ben Russell says his team have nothing to lose as they bid to cause a major upset away at Clifton on Saturday in National Two West (3pm).
Injury-hit Services are still winless after six league matches this term, while Clifton, who came down from National One in the summer, have only lost once so far – away at fellow high-flyers Luctonians.
“We knew it was a tough block to start with,” said Russell. “If you look at nearly all the teams we have played, they have all been in that top six or seven.
“And Clifton are one of those who should be up there come the end.
“They were at National One level last year.
“You watch them play and they are a very physical side and they play fast, as they have been used to playing at the level above.
“But we went there two years ago, the season they won the league, and we brought it back at one point in the second half to one score as we just kept hold of the ball.
“We just have to try and keep hold of the ball this week and play a bit of rugby.
“And the biggest thing is we have to try and take our opportunities. That’s the reason we are not scoring tries and winning games. We are turning the ball over too much. We just have to try and get that right.
“We are going up there to try and win the game. You have to have that mentality.
“Look at Loughborough last week, they beat Luctonians and no-one saw that coming.
“We will do the best we can and go to Clifton and try and take it to them. We’ve got nothing to lose.”
Services have not been helped by losing more players to injury and unavailability.
Already without Mike Rickard, Liam Jarvis, Harrison Coonick, Shaun Crouch, Henry Gliddon and George Pooley, they are now also without backs Henry Clement, Shaun Crawford, Charlie Groves and Harry Pickett this weekend.
However, they do have Dan Lilley available and have brought in Will Tanswell on loan from Camborne.
Due to so many backs available, and with Tom Davies likely to stay in the back-row, Services are likely to start with Billy Orchard at fly-half and move Sam Brown to the centre.
Ben Whysall and Charlie Over are in line for starts in Bristol, while Josh Martin is set to return to the first team squad and Alex Gibson could also get his chance.
“It is deja-vu from two years ago with all the injuries,” said Russell. “We’ve used 36 players already for the ones before this weekend.
“We are trying not to ransack our twos, but we also need the ones to be strong.”
REGIONAL TWO SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE will be looking to continue their unbeaten home record when they entertain newly-promoted Wiveliscombe at Cross-in-Hand on Saturday.
The Bridgers have seen off Tiverton and Teignmouth at home so far this season and are hoping to make it a hat-trick of wins against a Wiveliscombe side still looking for their first victory at level six.
But the Somerset side have proved competitive in their opening three games at the higher level. They drew at home with North Petherton and only lost by one score away at Okehampton and Crediton.
“I’ve seen their results and they obviously play a good brand of rugby and it looks like they deserve to be at this level,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson.
“It should be a good game.
“The boys are buzzing for it.
“We target every home game.”
Atkinson admits he does not know too much about their opponents this weekend.
“I have spoken to a few people about how they played last year, but when teams get promoted they can get new players in,” he said.
“I have been told they have a fairly good pack and that last year they have a good back three.
“We’ll see how we go. It should be interesting.”
Atkinson is hoping his team can improve on their line-out, which was an area they struggled in last week against Teignmouth, despite winning 51-21.
“I was a bit disappointed with that,” admitted Atkinson. “We knew Teignmouth would have a really good line-out as Colin Stewart is there. The line-out is big part of our game and we have been working on it.”
Ivybridge are set to keep the same starting XV as last weekend. The only change to their squad is on the bench where Hamish Harris swaps with Alex Garner.
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
DEVONPORT Services II will finally play their first home match in Western West when they entertain Kingsbridge at the Rectory on Saturday (2.30pm).
Services II’s first three matches since their promotion have all been on the road. They drew 29-29 away at Redruth II before defeats at Cullompton and Truro.
But they hope they can finally get their first win at level seven against a Kingsbridge side who have edged out Barnstaple II and Truro by a single score and been beaten at St Ives.
“It’s their first home game and they want to try and win,” said head coach Ben Russell.
“I’m confident the twos will be okay. They just haven’t had their strongest side out yet. We just need to get players back.
“This season we have more backs than forwards this year, but this weekend we have a ones backline unavailable.”
Services II could be boosted by having Yianni Costas and Archie Gray back following first team duty, but Ethan Millard and Freddie Dover are still injured.
Saltash are also still looking for their first win after two heart-breaking one-score defeats to Paignton and St Ives in their last two matches.
They face a tough trip to Torquay Athletic on Saturday (2.30pm).
The Tics are known for their good home form, but they were edged out 36-30 last weekend by unbeaten early league leaders Cullompton.
However, they did beat Newton Abbot 57-28 at the Recreation Ground in their only other home fixture.
Their only away game so far, saw them narrowly go down 34-33 to Paignton.
Torquay did do the double over Saltash last season, but both matches were tight.
The Tics won 19-12 at their place and then edged out the Ashes 29-28 at Moorlands Lane.
Saltash were grateful to Torquay for beating Penryn at the end of the season, which kept the Plymouth Combination side in Western West.
The Ashes, who suffered heartbreak last weekend by losing 43-42 at home to Paignton, are missing key forwards James Sutton and Steve Hillman due to injuries this weekend.
Number eight Hillman suffered a deep cut above his eye that required stitches, while Sutton injured his shoulder.
It means there is a first start for former OPMs forward Billy Garratt, while Laurie Thomson returns to the back-row. Phil Eatwell will switch to number eight in Hillman’s absence.
In the backline, centre Greg Eatwell is set to make his 150th appearance for Saltash’s first team.
COUNTIES TWO DEVON
THE only two unbeaten teams in Counties Two Devon clash this weekend, with Plymstock Oaks travelling to the Imperial Ground to take on Exmouth II.
Both clubs have 100 per cent records from their opening three matches.
Oaks have beaten Honiton 55-10, South Molton 76-28 and Brixham II 52-20 all at home, while Exmouth have overcome Topsham II 31-28 and OPMs 26-7 at home and Brixham II 37-20 away.
“It’s our first away game and we haven’t really got a clue what to expect as you just don’t know with second team,” said Oaks coach Mike Lewis.
“But they have been going well so we’ll have to be on it massively if we are to go away and get a win.
“We have got a few missing this weekend, but we still have a very good side out.”
Oaks are without a number of key summer signings, including Richard West, Tyler Busfield, Toby Moss, Tom Richards and Aiden Taylor.
But they have got Brandon Bonser back and Joey Pook, Ollie White, Alex Chapman, Alfie Upton and Harvey Searle are also set to come into the starting line-up.
With fly-half West missing, Matt Neyle is set to take over the number 10 jersey, with player-coach Lewis Paterson staying in the centres.
Tavistock will be looking to build on their first victory of the season last weekend when they host Brixham II at Sandy Park on Saturday (3pm).
Tavvy caused an upset last weekend by overcoming previously unbeaten Exeter Saracens 39-34.
“Last weekend’s victory was thoroughly deserved,” said Tavistock head coach Leigh Puttock.
“People keep telling me what a statement it was and, while that’s true for those looking in from the outside, the most important statement was to ourselves.
“When we trust our game-plan, stay patient in attack and defend together, we are capable of producing big wins. The challenge now is to build on that.
“This weekend is VPs Day, an opportunity to celebrate the people who form the DNA of our club. We hope our VPs bring their matchday voices and help become our 16th player. Their support can make a real difference.”
He added: “It has been a slightly disjointed week, with Tuesday’s training cancelled due to the town’s preparations for Goose Fair. However, a strong turnout on Thursday delivered a sharp session full of determination.
“Brixham are a club with proud traditions and strength in depth. We respect what they bring, but we cannot afford to give them too much respect on the pitch. We must back ourselves, impose our game and be ruthless when opportunities come.
“Selection has been tough following strong performances from all 18 players last weekend. We welcome back the Watts brothers, while Cal Baker returns from a knock and influential young talent Rory Cox is back in the engine room.
“Vaughan Glover will be unavailable for a few weeks due to personal commitments, so Andrew Shuttkacker moves to number eight, bringing experience and a guiding hand to the young team around him.”
OPMs are on their travels for a second week running when they visit winless Withycombe.
Withycombe only have one point to their name so far, but they have had a tough start with matches against Topsham II, Honiton and Bideford.
OPMs have one victory to their name so far – a home success over Tavistock – but they are keen to get an away win.
They did score 41 points away at Brixham II last weekend but still lost.
However, head coach Davy McGregor is hoping his team can build on the second half performance they produced at Astley Park and play with confidence.
“They need to start realising that they can win games, rather than just competing,” he said. “It is just a mind-set shift.”
McGregor is not totally sure what to expect at Raleigh Park this weekend.
“I have never actually been there,” he said.
OPMs will be looking for revenge after a humiliating 80-7 loss away at Withycombe in March.
COUNTIES THREE
THERE’S a big derby match in Counties Three Devon South & West on Saturday with Tamar Saracens hosting Plymouth Argaum at the Parkway (3pm).
Sarries are combining the match with an Oktoberfest and are hoping to get a good crowd for the fixture.
Last season both clubs won one game each. Sarries triumphed 28-7 at the Parkway and Argaum won 31-10 at Bickleigh down.
“Weirdly, I don’t think us and Argaum have had a close game – it’s either we crush them or they crush us,” said Saracens’ Pete Lethbridge.
Sarries, who beat Torquay II 28-11 last Saturday, are hoping to have good availability for this weekend’s match.
“At the moment we maybe have a consistent 28 training and some service boys are coming back so we are going to have a selection headache.”
Argaum were hit quite badly with injuries last weekend when they lost 64-0 at home to Ivybridge II.
“We just need to see what players we have left and who is available,” said their head coach Martyn Hendy.
Hendy might be taking Argaum down to the Parkway for the first time, but he will see a familiar face in the opposition coaching box in the form of Will Wills.
“He’s in the army as well and I’ve known him for many, many years,” said Hendy.
Old Techs will be aiming to keep their 100 per cent record going when they make the tough trip to Queen’s Park to take on last season’s runners-up Paignton II.
Techs are Ivybridge II are the only two teams with a maximum 15 points from their opening three fixtures.
Techs have seen off Kingsbridge II, Plymstock Oaks II and Dartmouth so far, but they know this weekend will be their toughest test yet.
Paignton II were handed a walkover by Dartmouth last weekend and before that were narrowly beaten 24-23 away at Argaum but beat Oaks II 20-17 in their first match.
“Oaks was a tough test, but that was at home,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith.
“We know going to Paignton is always tough. They are very good at home.
“We played them up there in the last game of last season and they just beat us and they probably deserved it.
“So we know it will be a tough challenge, but we are playing with confidence and we have got good availability, so there can’t be any excuses.”
Techs should have Josh O’Hare, Ollie Davey, Reece Boase and Ryan Smith back in the mix after they missed last week’s 94-0 away victory over Kingsbridge II.
“I think we have 26 players available this weekend, which means we are going to have to leave some players out, which you don’t want to do,” said Bedford-Smith.
“The players are really making it hard for us.
“We probably had eight missing last week, but the players that came in took their chance and so it makes selection tough.
“But it is a good situation to be in and we are trying to rotate to try and keep everyone happy.
“Everyone is buying into it and training hard and that’s showing.
“We have had a good start, but it’s a long, long season.”
Ivybridge II will be looking to make it four wins in a row when they travel to Dartmouth (2.30pm).
Both teams came down from Counties Two Devon in the summer, but while Ivybridge II have got three wins out of three and sit top of the table, Dartmouth have yet to win and are sitting at the bottom.
But Ivybridge II will not be taking Dartmouth lightly after their South Hams rivals stunned them at Cross-in-Hand in February.
“Last year they turned up at our place with a few navy officers,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson.
“Our lads that played in that game will remember it.
“We expect them (Dartmouth) to have their strongest team.
“We don’t want to take anyone lightly. I don’t want us to be too over-confident.”
Ivybridge II are again strong and have named Cam Wallace, Marcus Prout, Alex Garner, Ben Winters and Fin Hamilton in their pack and have Owen Alp, Luke Martell and Angus Harris among their backs.
Plymstock Oaks II will play their first home match of the season when they entertain Torquay Athletic II at Horsham Fields (2.30pm).
Oaks II secured their first win of the campaign last Saturday when they beat Totnes 57-33 away.
Plymstock will have to make changes with so many first team players unavailable but they are confident in the side they have named.
“We have 42 available this weekend despite having eight or 10 missing from last week so we still have lots of boys who want to play rugby,” said Oaks coach Mike Lewis.
There will be a few boys playing out of position, but they are looking forward to having their first home game.
“They were fantastic last week and, hopefully, they will have the confidence to play around them a bit more.”
Plympton Victoria have been able to name a side for their trip to Totnes this weekend after having to forfeit last Saturday’s match at Salcombe due to a lack of players.
“After last week’s cancellation, it’s time to dust ourselves off, get back out there and show what Plym Vic is all about,” said a club spokesperson.
Plym Vic are still looking for new players to strengthen their squad, but they have got 19 to travel to Totnes, with veterans Chris Hunt and Kevin Jefferies named among the replacements.
Last season Totnes did do the double over Plym Vic, but the sides have had some good games in recent years.
In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II have been handed a walkover by Falmouth II, who are unable to raise a side.