LAUNCESTON Rugby Club’s first team will begin their 2018/19 Tribute South West One (West) campaign with a trip to Lydney on Saturday, September 1.
After last season’s third-placed finish following relegation from National League rugby, the Cornish All Blacks as they are better known, are aiming high under the new coaching team of Ryan Westren and Ian Goldsmith.
The All Blacks have scheduled four pre-season games with three at home before their league opener.
They start at Polson Bridge against London One North side Old Fullerians from near Watford on Saturday, August 11 before welcoming Bude three days later for an evening kick-off (7.30pm).
Their first venture outside of the Duchy sees them make the trip to South West Premier club Barnstaple, who went down last year from National League Two (South), on Saturday, August 18.
They round off their preparations with a home game against Penryn, who came third in the Tribute Cornwall and Devon League last season.
South West One (West) is once again made up of 14 teams ranging from St Ives down in the corner of West Cornwall to Newent, Coney Hill and Lydney in Gloucestershire.
There are five new opponents for supporters to see, with Lydney and Hornets (based in Weston Super-Mare) coming down and St Ives (Cornwall), Devonport Services (Plymouth) and Coney Hill (Gloucestershire) all being promoted from Western Counties League rugby.
The All Blacks make the long trip to Lydney, who were relegated from the South West Premier having won just six of their 26 games before welcoming Newent, who the All Blacks enjoyed an excellent rivalry with last term.
North Petherton away is next on the agenda on September 15 before two of the standout matches of the season end the month.
Okehampton make the short trip down the A30 before facing off against the only other Cornish club in the division.
They travel to newly-promoted St Ives, who romped to the Western Counties (West) title.
The return games are at Okehampton on January 12 before St Ives make the trip up a week later.
Home comforts will hopefully pay off towards the end of the season with three of their final four fixtures in North Cornwall.
Coney Hill and Thornbury are the visitors on March 23 and April 6 respectively before the season comes to its conclusion as it started — with Lydney providing the opposition at Polson Bridge on April 13.
Launceston Rugby Club’s 2018/19 Tribute South West One (West) fixture list (Please note that all fixtures, which are scheduled to be played on Saturdays, are subject to change — home matches in capitals)
September
1st: Lydney
8th: NEWENT
15th: North Petherton
22nd: OKEHAMPTON
29th: St Ives
October
6th: TEIGNMOUTH
13th: No game
20th: Bridgwater & Albion
27th: HORNETS
November
3rd: Cullompton
10th: No game
17th: DEVONPORT SERVICES
24th: Coney Hill
December
1st: KEYNSHAM
8th: Thornbury
15th: Newent
22nd: No game
29th: No game
January
5th: NORTH PETHERTON
12th: Okehampton
19th: ST IVES
26th: Teignmouth
February
2nd: No game
9th: BRIDGWATER & ALBION
16th: Hornets
23rd: No game
March
2nd: CULLOMPTON
9th: Devonport Services
16th: No game
23rd: CONEY HILL
30th: Keynsham
April
6th: THORNBURY
13th: LYDNEY