IT scarcely seems possible that nearly four months have passed since the final game of last season and here we are starting the process all over again.

The players, well many of them, have been training for six weeks with the emphasis on fitness. Chris Gibson who runs Frontier Performance Gym in Exeter has been overseeing the fitness on Tuesdays with some innovative and entertaining sessions which the players are enjoying immensely whilst at the same time improving their fitness.

Former Exeter Chiefs player Jason Luff has joined the club as a player coach, sharing the responsibilities with Mark Lee whose younger brother Josh will be the new club captain.

Generally, numbers have been good and in the region of 50 players have trained so far although not all at the same time!

The club is delighted to welcome a few new players too, Andy Hawkes is a strong front five forward who has joined from Brixham having moved into the area. He brings with him considerable experience having played at a higher level and will no doubt be a huge asset to the Club.

Gareth Mason has also recently moved into the area and can list Clifton as one of his previous clubs where he played at scrum-half.

His strong running and ability to pass both ways has already been noticed in training and he will certainly be challenging for a spot in the First Fifteen.

Centre Dan Cooper is another new recruit, previously playing at Dartford although he did have a few games at North Tawton last season and will be another one to challenge for a spot in the First Fifteen.

After six weeks of training, it was good to get a trial game under our belts and South Molton were the visitors last Saturday.

A day more suited to cricket found the ground pretty hard but thankfully, and due to the tremendous work put in by the ground staff, the pitch had decent grass cover and looked in first class condition.

It is always difficult to glean too much from trial games especially when so many players were not available but nonetheless they are a worthwhile exercise.

Both sides played some good rugby, attempting to get the backs moving at every opportunity.

South Molton, always strong up front, proved a handful in that area and certainly there are things to be ironed out in that department.

Likewise the lineouts, which did not always go according to plan, will need working on. For the record, we did win the game 29-12 with a brace of tries each for Mark Lee and Jason Luff with Lee adding a couple of conversions.

Tomorrow, Saturday, August 20, we travel to Saltash with two squads for a second round of trial games and the following week (Saturday, August 27) we make the return journey to South Molton for the final trial game before the league programme gets under way on Saturday, September 3.

For the First Fifteen, September looks a difficult month, opening with trips to Wellington and Cullompton before Devonport visit Blagdon for our first home game on September 17. A short trip to Exeter University completes the first month, three away games and one at home.

Things don’t get easier for the ‘Quins either, although all of their September games will be at home, against Barnstaple, Cullompton and Devonport, all in Devon Merit Table One.

After the success of last season, ending as Devon Merit Table Two champions, much will be expected from the Third Fifteen and they begin the defence of their title with trips to Honiton and Withycombe before entertaining Plymstock.

The Thirds have a full and strong fixture list, one that would stand comparison with the fixtures of most Second Fifteen’s around the county.

Club memberships are now due for renewal and, of course, we welcome members old and new to the club and look forward to seeing them during the season.

Paul Harris