ST AUSTELL will start their third Regional One South West campaign with a trip to Chew Valley on Saturday, September 6.

The Saints enjoyed a fine campaign to eventually finish fourth and are keen to continue the momentum built.

Now-retired centre Sam Parsons has taken over as head coach from Matt Shepherd who remains as a player and backs coach, while the rest of the coaching staff are the same.

Chew finished second bottom last season and have avoided the drop, before Gloucestershire side Lydney arrive at Tregorrick Park the following Saturday.

St Austell round off the month by going to relegated Devonport Services who are expected to be towards the top.

After a week off, October has four successive games, meaning nearly a third of the season will have been played by the end of the month.

A home clash with an always dangerous Exmouth side is first up on October 4, which is followed by a trip to promoted Topsham who are based near Exeter.

Bragging rights are at stake on October 18 when Launceston are the visitors, before the long trip into Wiltshire to tackle Marlborough and their plethora of Pacific Islanders.

November has three games as after welcoming Sidmouth on the 8th, the Saints have two sizeable journeys to Royal Wootton Bassett and Matson.

Brixham pushed champions Barnstaple close last term and arrive in Cornwall on December 6 to complete the first half.

St Austell still have two more games before Christmas as they visit Lydney and face a pre-Christmas test against Devonport.

After Christmas there are more gaps in the schedule with fixtures being in the same order as the first half of the season with the exception of Chew Valley who visit on the final day on April 11.

The second clash with Launceston at Polson Bridge is on January 31.

St Austell Seconds – better known as the Sinners – survived by the skin of their teeth in Counties Two Cornwall last term after a final day home victory over Hayle.

Their campaign wasn’t helped by a hefty injury list in the first team for much of the season, although there is no third team this time around.

It means they should be more competitive in a tough-looking division which has seen Bude come down from Counties One Western West, while the seconds teams of Camborne and Launceston have been promoted.

Camborne away is the task on the opening day (September 6) before they head to the far end of West Cornwall to tackle St Just a week later.

They eventually have a home game on October 4 when Bodmin make the short trip down to Tregorrick Park, before they round off the month by going to Perranporth and welcoming their Launceston counterparts.

There are 22 games although the season doesn’t finish until April 25.

St Austell first team fixtures: September: 6 – Chew Valley (A); 13 – Lydney (H); 20 – Devonport Services (A); October: 4 – Exmouth (H); 11 – Topsham (A); 18 – Launceston (H); 25 – Marlborough (A); November: 8 – Sidmouth (H); 22 – Royal Wootton Bassett (A); Matson (A); December: 6 – Brixham (H); 13 – Lydney (A); 20 – Devonport Services (H); January: 10 – Exmouth (A); 17 – Topsham (H); 31 – Launceston (A); February: 14 – Marlborough (H); 28 – Sidmouth (A); March: 7 – Royal Wootton Bassett (H); 21 – Matson (H); 28 – Brixham (A); April: 11 – Chew Valley (H).