AFTER the best part of 18 months without any rugby at Blagdon, things are beginning to take shape and it looks as though we may be able to start the new season with some hope that we may be able to complete it.

Sporting Clubs throughout the country have suffered during this time but of course when put into some sort of perspective, that suffering pales into insignificance compared to families and friends who have lost loved ones to Covid. Therefore, we have to count our blessings, remain vigilant but at least go and enjoy the sport that is on offer.

Already, this virus has taken its toll in the rugby world with the loss of Stroud RFC from the league structure, a club with such a long and often glorious history has been unable to find enough players to make a team.

No doubt there were underlying issues which caused players to depart but it is difficult not to have some sort of sympathy with their plight. Ironically, Stroud were to be our first league game of the new season and so already we have lost the benefit of one home game.

No doubt supporters and players are chomping at the bit for the action to start, having been forced to put up with some pretty uninspiring rugby on the TV during the lockdown, it will be a delight to see some grassroots rugby played with honest endeavour and no shortage of skill.

We have already seen a glimpse of things to come with a few friendly trial games in which we have tried to ensure that everyone had a run out.

Some new faces have appeared alongside many more familiar ones and once again, the club will be captained by Henry Gavin.

Among the newcomers are scrum-half Dean Sears, a South African currently serving in the Marines at Lympstone.

The Davies brothers Aiden and Fenton who, between them can cover most positions in the backs and previously with South Molton.

Wing-forward Ethan Langton-Justice who joins us from Exmouth and Prop Will Cole, formerly with Newton Abbot and Okehampton.

Added to that are Luke Mingo and Chris Courtier, two powerful forwards, who joined last year but had little or no game time due to the start of the pandemic.

A number of Colts have come through, hooker Nathan Karea and prop Liam Newstead, both of whom will have dual registration with Cardiff Met University.

A Club XV travelled to Exmouth for the first trial game and although defeated 12-45, we did give a really good account of ourselves.

Whilst we did dominate “The Cockles” up front - which must be of great concern to them - we lacked a bit of penetration outside. Indeed we restricted them to very few visits to our “22” but when they did reach that marker, inevitably they put points on the board. Jake Clarke and Nathan Karea scored our tries with Josh Davey adding a conversion.

We hosted North Tawton last week at the Blagdon Ground and were given a lesson in taking chances.

Tawts indeed looked a very useful side and will cause many a problem for teams in Devon One.

Hooker Tom Luxmoore grabbed our consolation try in a 5-34 defeat.

On the Thursday evening we entertained Exeter University and both sides provided a feast of rugby and showed exactly what we have missed for the last 18 months. The University looked a powerful side, aided and abetted by their GPS chips they certainly looked the part.

It rather surprised them to find themselves in reverse gear at almost every scrum. Surprise turned to shock when they had conceded 12 points in the opening quarter without their side of the scoreboard moving.

Of course, where they did have the upper hand was when the backs had the ball and they made ground.

However, our defence was at times outstanding and we held them out until shortly before the interval when two tries, both of which were from lineout moves straight from the training pitch plus a conversion brought the scores level.

Things looked ominous for us when the students scored an early try, although the conversion hit the post.

That perhaps could have been the signal for them to open up a bigger lead as their threes were looking sharp but it was something of a false dawn as we were once again camped some five metres off their line and eventually earned a penalty try as our driving maul was brought down illegally.

The lead changed hands for a third time when the University backs once again opened us up to score out wide, the conversion making the score 24-19 in their favour.

The lead was short lived as once more we came back and another forward try and conversion put us back in the lead 26-24.

Unfortunately, we were reduced to 14 men after an indiscretion produced a yellow card and the University made full use of the advantage to score two late tries with one conversion to see them out as winners 36-26.

Many more positives than negatives for us from this game and there is no doubt that if everyone remains fit and available then we will raise a few eyebrows as the season progresses.

With no First XV game tomorrow (Saturday, September 4), our league campaign will not start until September 11, when we travel to Thornbury and our first home game South West One will be on the September 18 against Bridgwater.

However, the Quins begin their Merit Table programme with a trip to Brixham tomorrow (Saturday, September 4) whilst the Third XV entertain Exmouth Thirds and the Colts visit Barnstaple.

On Tuesday, the Colts have their annual evening fixture with Exeter School.

Paul Harris