Ivybridge are facing their third south Devon derby in as many league games tomorrow as they travel to take on the Newton Abbot All Whites at Rackerhayes writes Tim Leigh.

Newton have not had the best start to the season, including a 45-11 defeat last time out to Barnstaple, but will nevertheless certainly be a stern proposition on their own patch, where they racked up 45 points of their own last league game.

Ivybridge’s first team had a week off last weekend when Teign­mouth, who have been struggling to adapt to life in their new league this season, pulled out of their Devon Senior Cup fixture.

Ivybridge senior manager Neil Thomson said: ‘Newton Abbot’s home record speaks for itself, it’ll be a very tough game, but we’ll come out all guns blazing and give it a good go. Any away result is good in this league.

‘Confidence is high at the moment and we’ve got momentum, we’ve just got to keep that going, I’d love to make it four wins from five.

‘The boys will be buzzing to play another Devon team and we’re looking to maintain po­sitivity while we can.’

Thomson expected Dan Jones and Peter Abrahams, who was captaining the seconds last weekend, to come in for Elliott Worrall and Gareth Elliott, who are injured and working respectively.

‘They are the only changes to the side, although Thomson admitted youngster Toby Evans is pushing hard for a place.

He said: ‘As Teign­mouth pulled out of the game I went to watch our development side play Devonport.

‘We won comfortably and played well, it’s nice to see them playing the way they’ve been coached to.

‘Toby looked very good, he’s certainly in contention, but he still needs another week to fully recover from an ankle injury.’

The Ivybridge Van­dals were in fine form against Devonport Ser­vices reserves, scoring at will to notch a comfortable 50-11 victory, with Evans and captain Abrahams both im­pressing.

Ivybridge were well beaten by the All Whites in the Devon Cup last season and while Ivy­bridge have certainly improved since then, Thomson is under no illusions about the challenge his team face.

He said: ‘Our objective as a club is still halfway up the league, but if we keep picking up points then we’ll ob­viously have to reconsider.

‘There’s still a long way to go yet though, but we’re gelling well and the lads are enjoying themselves, so hopefully that will continue.’

The end result of Teignmouth not fulfilling their fixture is that Ivybridge advance through to the next round in February, where they will meet Exmouth.

Exmouth booked their spot by turning over tomorrow’s opponents Newton Abbot.