Barum welcome Brixham for Devon rugby’s biggest game

North Devon rugby clubs will resume hostilities this weekend after Storm Darragh wiped out last Saturday’s schedule, and it is a massive game on the menu for Barnstaple RFC.

Third-placed Brixham are the visitors to Pottington Road and Barum will be looking to extend their current five-point gap over the South Devon club, while also putting pressure on Exmouth, who lead the way in the Regional 1 Tribute SW division.

It is a match that has all the ingredients for a classic, with Barum looking to build on an impressive six-match winning streak, while Brixham have won seven on the trot, and one of those victories came against Exmouth. The reverse game in Brixham ended in a compelling 17-17 draw in September.

As well as the big game for Barnstaple Chiefs, it is also an important weekend for the Barum second string, Barnstaple Athletic, who travel to lowly Tavistock in the Counties 1 Tribute Western West Division. A win for the Athletic will keep them in touch with the leading trio of Paignton, Pirates Amateurs and Plymstock Oaks.

There is an intriguing North Devon derby to enjoy in the Devon Merit NE Division, with Torrington playing host to the Barnstaple Buccaneers.

In a division that includes five teams from North Devon, the Buccaneers currently sit in third, nestled behind Ilfracombe and leaders Crediton 3rds, while Torrington are in eighth with three wins from their seven outings.

Torrington’s last game was a 36-19 loss at Bideford 2nds in another local derby, so a big challenge this weekend to restore North Devon kudos against the Buccaneers.

Bideford 2nds are poised in fourth and will be favourites to secure maximum points in their home tie against Honiton 2nds. Bideford then complete their pre-Christmas schedule with a testing trip to the leaders on December 21.

Ilfracombe have lost only twice this season and will be looking to keep up the pressure on Crediton when they travel to struggling Topsham 3rds on Saturday.

The final North Devon club in this division are South Molton 2nds, who have endured a tough first half to their campaign, picking up just the one victory from nine games, but they have won many friends and admirers across the division for their honest and determined displays. South Molton resume their league programme with a trip to Torrington on January 4.

The South Molton first XV face the ultimate test in the Counties 2 Tribute Devon Division, as they host runaway leaders Torquay Athletic. The Tics from Torquay have historically played a lot higher up the rugby pyramid and have won all ten games this season, racking up an average of more than 50 points per game.

The one North Devon club probably more desperate than any other for a change in fortune are the Bideford Chiefs, who approach the halfway point in the campaign still seeking their first victory in the Counties 1 Tribute Western West Division.

The encouragement for Bideford is they have not been trampled by opponents, largely just falling short in tight games, but this weekend’s trip to third-placed Plymstock will be a tough ask.