WELLINGTON will be looking to avenge a home defeat by Winscombe in October when they play away to their rivals in Regional Two South West on Saturday, January 11.

Graham Dawe’s side have slipped to ninth in the table following last weekend’s loss to Okehampton, and have played one more game than the three teams below them.

However, Dawe is dismissing any thoughts of relegation saying: “There is too much fight and desire in the team to think about the possibly of going down."

Looking back on the defeat by Okehampton he said: “We are missing too many one-on-one tackles out wide. We need to make 95 per cent of these and we’re not doing this. We need to be making a far bigger percentage of tackles.”

Wellington, who have now lost nine matches in the league, will go into Saturday’s game at Winscombe without three for their most experienced players. Skipper and back rower Danny Lee has a neck injury, centre George Hodgson, out for eight weeks, is waiting on a scan on his knee, and winger Ash Harney is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

“These are crucial players in our team and it makes it very difficult to win games without them,” added Dawe. "But, of course, it opens the door for younger players to show what they can do.”

Winscombe are lying sixth the table but suffered a big 54-0 defeat away to Tiverton last weekend. Topsham continue to top the table, and have a 12-point lead over second-placed Okehampton. At the other end of the table, Newton Abbot are bottom with only 11 points from 13 fixtures - and only one victory to date.

Meanwhile, Wellington 2nd XV will be looking to bounce back after their 45-0 hammering away to Weston super Mare last weekend, when they play at home to their Chard counterparts in Counties Three Somerset - also on Saturday (2.30p.m.). The Seconds have been struggling since early November, mostly because of calls being made on their players by the first team.

Wellington are lying seventh in the table, while Chard are down in tenth spot.

Wellington will be looking to complete the season’s double over Chard, having beaten the South Somerset side 36-27 away when the sides played each other in October.

Wivelliscombe will be hoping to maintain their fine form in Counties One Western West on Saturday when they play at home to St Ives (2.30).

Wiveliscombe, who won 48-16 away to a young Tavistock side last weekend, are lying fifth in the table while St Ives are in eighth spot. Paignton are leaders of the division, having lost only one of their 14 matches.

Wiveliscombe 2nd XV are away to Hornets IV in Counties Four Somerset South.