BUDE Rugby Club’s first team will start and finish their 2018/19 Tribute Cornwall and Devon League campaign against Tavistock.

The Seasiders finished fifth in player/coach Angus Hodges’ first season in charge, but expectations are much higher this time around with a promotion push firmly on the agenda.

Hodges has scheduled three pre-season games. They travel down to Polson Bridge to take on South West One (West) side Launceston on Tuesday, August 14 (7.30pm) before going to Wadebridge Camels on the 18th, who play in the league above in Tribute Western Counties (West).

They round off their preparations with a home game against Essex club Hornchurch on Saturday, August 25 before the real action gets underway a week later at Tavistock.

Devon League One runners-up Topsham provide the opposition for the first league game at Bencoolen Meadow on Saturday, September 8 before they make the long trip to relegated Torquay Athletic on the 15th.

The return game with Topsham rounds off 2018 before the visit of Torquay on January 5 gets the new year underway.

Their first meeting with Liskeard-Looe, who eased to the Cornwall League One title by winning all 14 games, is on October 27 at Lux Park with the return on February 16, while their clashes with the Devon League One holders South Molton are on December 8 and April 6.

The season ends on April 13 when Tavistock come to North Cornwall.

In the Tribute Cornwall Knockout Cup, Bude head to Wadebridge Camels on Saturday, October 13 in the first-round.

The second team will play in the CRFU Duchy Cup, which has a plate competition for the first-round losers, and in over 20 friendlies.

They play?Launceston seconds in the Duchy Cup in a two-legged affair with Bude at home on September 8 — a week after they travel to Polson Bridge.

If they make it through they’ll play the semi-final on September 15 with the final held over the Easter weekend.

Their opening friendly game is at Wadebridge Camels’ seconds away on September 22, if they defeat Launceston seconds in the Duchy Cup, otherwise its Bideford seconds at home on September 29.

Their final friendly game of the season is at Okehampton seconds on April 27.