ST AUSTELL RFC are gearing up for their second season at Regional One South West level, and the Saints have found out their fixtures for the 2024/25 campaign.

Full-back Matt Shepherd, who has taken over as head coach but will continue to play, sees his side start with a home game against last year’s runners-up Barnstaple.

They then face two trips to Gloucestershire in the space of a fortnight on September 14 and 28 at Lydney and Matson either side of a home clash with another of the fancied sides, Brixham, who finished fourth last term.

Following a week off, things don’t get easier as another of the league’s better sides, Chew Valley, arrive in Cornwall from Somerset before they go to newly-promoted Sidmouth on October 19.

Exmouth provide the opposition at Tregorrick Park on October 26 before a fortnight later sees them make the long trip up to Wiltshire to tackle Royal Wootton Bassett for the first time in their history.

They eased to the Regional Two Severn title last year and are particularly good at home.

One of last year’s strugglers Ivybridge visit on November 16 before the Cornish derby at Launceston a fortnight later.

Marlborough from Wiltshire have been transferred into the South West division by the RFU, and they make the long trip down to the Duchy on December 7 for the final game of the first half.

The last home game before Christmas is a week later against Lydney, while they go to Brixham four days before the big day.

The new year starts with a visit from Matson, while the derby with Launceston is set for March 8.

They end the league season against who they start, with a trip to North Devon to tackle Barnstaple.

The second team – better known as the Sinners – finished fourth in Counties Two Cornwall, while the thirds, the Spartans, were fifth in the league below.

Although the club have lost scrum-half CJ Boyce to one-league higher Camborne, the Saints have been busy announcing the retention of a number of key players.

In the forwards these include prop Matt Boothby, lock Mark Vian, all-action flanker Cameron Taylor who was voted coaches’, players’ and supporters’ player of the season at their recent end of season celebrations, and former head coach Kyle Marriott at number eight.

The centre partnership of defence coach Sam Parsons and Ben Plummer will likely continue after they were both confirmed as staying, as are the lively wingers, Dan Tyrrell and Max Bullen.

The end of season awards ceremony, which was also the club’s diamond anniversary celebration, was held at the beginning of the month at the Seahorse in Pentewan Sands.

As mentioned above, Cam Taylor took home three first team awards, as did Garry Hooper in the third team.

Garry Hooper, pictured on the ball, was the standout player for St Austell Thirds, better known as the Spartans during their campaign.
Garry Hooper, pictured on the ball, was the standout player for St Austell Thirds, better known as the Spartans during their campaign. (St Austell RFC)

The awards in full were as follows: Coaches Awards: Saints’ Player – Cam Taylor; Sinners’ Player – Pete Rowe; Spartans’ Player – Garry Hooper; Young Player – Peter Harris; Most Improved – Kaydan Michael; Top Try Scorer – Ryan Mace.

Saints Awards: Players’ Player – Cam Taylor; Campaign Award – Dan Tyrrell and CJ Boyce.

Sinners Awards: Players’ Player – Peter Tuckley; Campaign Award – Jack Grigg.

Spartans Awards: Players’ Player – Garry Hooper; Campaign Award – Josh Barbery and Jack Mardle.

Supporters’ Awards: Saint of the Year – Cam Taylor; Sinner of the Year – Alex Welland; Spartan of the Year – Garry Hooper.

Volunteers Awards: Guppy Shield – Ben Plummer; True Saints – Jenny Tyrrell and Michaelle Hunkin; Chairman’s Cup – Tich Preston.

The club have also announced the signing of powerful back-rower Adam Powell from neighbours Liskeard-Looe.

Powell is particularly comfortable either at six or at number eight and will provide even more options to an already packed area of the squad.