DARTMOUTH are not out of relegation danger yet in Devon One after going down 25-7 at home to Devonport Services Pilgrims.
The Riversiders are three places and nine points clear of the bottom two, which is almost enough of a safety margin to ensure survival.
One more win should be enough and with three of the teams below them still to face – South Molton, Exmouth Quins and Tamar Saracens – Dartmouth can play their way out of trouble.
Services held a 15-0 lead in the second half thanks to tries by Sean Harrison and Matt Storey, topped up by kicks from Matt Neyle-Opie.
Karl Caunter pulled back a converted try for Dartmouth, which put them in potential range of a losing bonus point.
Two late tries by hooker Pilgrims’ hooker Josh Martin scuppered Dartmouth’s bonus-point hopes.
Dartmouth have no match coming up this Saturday afternoon. There is in fact only one game this weekend in the Counties 2 Tribute Devon division as Exeter Saracens go toe-to-toe with the aforementioned Devonport Services.
Saracens (4th) and Services (2nd) are both at the right end of the table and with games in hand on leaders Torquay, but their remarkable record of 18 wins from 18 shows that they are unlikely to slip up anytime soon.
The following weekend sees eighth-placed Dartmouth visit tenth-placed Tamar Saracens whilst Devonport ( 2nd ) take on Topsham ( 6th ), Exmouth ( 11th ) take on South Molton ( 9th ), Honiton ( 3rd ) take on Withycombe ( 5th ), Old Plymothian & Mannamedian ( 7th ) take on Exeter Saracens ( 4th ) and Plymouth Argaum ( 12th ) take on the unbeaten league leaders Torquay Athletic.