THE powers that be seem intent on disrupting the sporting calendar with some truly woeful weather, leaving many with empty weekends and sunshine envy.

Here’s to hoping that February will be the end of this pattern and if that is the case, here are some of the standout fixtures taking place near you, in the worlds of football and rugby.

WHILST not quite in February, Marc Revell will get his second spell at the helm of Newton Abbot Spurs underway on January 31, following two postponements.

His side were scheduled to visit Ilminster Town and Bridport FC previously but he has instead had to wait a little longer to return to the Spurs technical area.

One positive of this is that he will get the ball rolling at The Rec with Torridgeside AFC the visitors and then, on Saturday, February 7, Revell and co will play host to Ilfracombe Town.

Teignmouth AFC and Bovey Tracey AFC are both on their travels on the seventh leaving Spurs as our only SW Peninsula League East team playing on home soil on that weekend.

On the subject of football and up and down the South Devon Football League, several cup draws have been made with ties to take place on either Feb 7 or 14, depending on pitch availability.

Meanwhile, in the rugby world, Newton Abbot RFC IIs are still searching for a first win and it won’t be easy for them when a strong North Tawton team visit them on the seventh.

There is rare Sunday action too and this fixture is perhaps the pick of the bunch for the whole month as it is a cup final.

After beating rivals Teignmouth in the semi-final, Newton Abbot RFC 1st XV are set to welcome Cullompton to Rackerhayes for the Devon Intermediate Cup final on Feb 8. This presents them with a great opportunity to hoist a piece of silverware aloft and given that all six of their league wins have come at home, where better to play!

The All Whites are at home once again on Saturday 14, playing host to Kingsbridge as they return to league action and the same goes for Teignmouth who will be taking on Tiverton.

New Cross on the other hand are away for all of the month and there are no rugby fixtures during the second half of February, across the board.

Buckland Athletic’s solitary clash at Homers Heath is on the 14th with fellow Western League playoff hopefuls Paulton Rovers the side coming to Newton Abbot for an enticing affair.

Elsewhere, Bovey and Teignmouth both have WCP League Cup clashes on the agenda, the former hosting Premier West high-flyers Liskeard Athletic and the latter travelling to Penzance.

Another big game follows for the Moorlanders on Saturday 21 as it is first against second at the Western Counties Roofing Ground. Bovey are the frontrunners and Bridport have a lot of work to do to catch them but an away win here and who knows what will happen.

At Coombe Valley, Teignmouth take on Ilfracombe that day and then, on Friday 27, they host Bovey for a tasty local clash.

Everything points to a Bovey win but form can easily go out of the window in a derby fixture.