FOLLOWING on from their 2-1 home win over Ivybridge Town to kickstart, Buckland Athletic will visit Nailsea & Tickenham on Saturday, January 11.

Nailsea are sat in eighth in the Western Football League, right behind seventh-placed Buckland, three points between the two with the former boasting a game in hand, so it is a difficult one to call.

Having recovered from a four-game losing streak to now win two on the spin, Dan Hart will be hopeful that his forwards, “Who are normally ruthless”, will put some big misses behind them from the Ivybridge game and power on the side to another three points.

In the South West Peninsula League Premier East meanwhile, the Mid-Devon trio of Bovey Tracey AFC, Newton Abbot Spurs and Teignmouth all have games scheduled for this weekend. This was the case last weekend though and Bovey were the only ones to take to the field amidst frozen pitches and torrential rain.

Spurs are in a similar position to the aforementioned Buckland in that they team travel to are three points behind them, although it is worth noting that Marc Revell’s men have four games in hand on Bridport FC.

Bovey and Teignmouth are both playing in front of a home crowd, welcoming Honiton Town and Bishops Lydeard to their respective grounds.

Newton Abbot 66 1st vs Ilsington Villa promises to be an enticing affair at Osborne Park in the South Devon Football League Premier and is perhaps the pick of the fixtures.

Ilsington lead the way in the top flight, with nine wins from 11 and just two points behind them, in third, are this impressive 66 team.

Chudleigh Athletic will take on Elburton Villa in the league as well whilst there are a pair of Herald Cup clashes also worth keeping an eye on.

Buckland Athletic 2nd XI take on Kingsteignton Athletic at Homers Heath and Newton Spurs 2nd XI welcome Beesands Rovers of the South Hams to The Rec. Kingsteignton beat Beesands 2-0 in the league in the latest outings, the former then take on 66 on the 18th before Buckland meet Beesands on the 25th, with this quartet heavily intertwined this month.

Further down the SDFL divisions, intriguing affairs include Newton Spurs 3rd XI vs Elburton Villa 3rd XI (Fred Hewings Cup), Newton Rovers vs Harbertonford (Division Two), Kingsteignton 2nd XI vs Newton 66 2nd XI (Division Three) and Kingskerswell FC vs Barton Athletic (Division Four).

Over to the rugby now and time is running out for Newton Abbot RFC 1st XV to fight their way away from the foot of the table.

Fellow strugglers Truro visit Rackerhayes on the 11th, a game which both will be desperate to win, whilst Teignmouth, who themselves aren’t out of the woods just yet, host Tiverton next.

Finally to Newton Abbot Spartans and New Cross RFC, both of whom would love to bounce back from defeats with victory on Saturday.

The Spartans go on the road to face Cullompton 2nd XI, before having a weekend off on the 18th, whilst New Cross play at home with Okehampton 2nd XI as the visiting team.

Photography by Jamie Rooke.