THE 2024-25 season is fast approaching for Crediton Rugby Club and training has been under way for well over a month under the watchful eyes of Stuart Lowe, Rob Avery-Wright and Jack Yeandle with Tom Merriman putting the players through their paces with some gentle pre-season fitness work.
For the First XV, whilst finishing fourth in the league last season may have been viewed as a disappointment compared with the previous season’s runner up spot, it was still a successful campaign in what was certainly a very competitive league.
The forthcoming season promised to be equally tight and although in most peoples eyes we will be one of the favourites to land the promotion spot, there are a number of other Clubs who will be in the mix come the final games in April. Topsham, Truro and Wadebridge will certainly be amongst the front runners as will our neighbours from Tiverton, Okehampton and Cullompton. Some interesting local derbies lie ahead.
The pre-season fixtures begin on Saturday, August 10, with a home game against Plymstock who narrowly missed out on promotion into our league last season finishing as runners-up to Tiverton.
The following Thursday evening (August 15) the squad travels to Bideford for a second trial game and on Thursday 22, we host Taunton. The opening league game is on September 7 at Truro.
The Quins XV were extremely unlucky last season having to settle for third place in the league because they had played one game fewer the runners up New Cross. Our game at Exeter Athletic, postponed due to the weather and pitch conditions was never played.
According to RFU Regulations if unplayed games have no bearing on promotion or relegation then they need not be played.
It is fair to say that the likelihood is that we would have gained a bonus point win had the game been played which would have seen us to second place.
We begin next season with a point to prove!
The Quins have a couple of pre-season friendlies at home against Withycombe on August 17 and Exeter Saracens on August 24 and they begin the league programme on September 7, oddly enough against last seasons runner-up New Cross.
The Third XV start with a couple of pre season friendlies against New Cross Seconds at home on August 17 and Exeter Saracens Seconds on August 24 before commencing their Merit Table fixtures away at Torrington on September 7.
The Colts have warm up games at home against Barnstaple on August 24, Cullompton on August 31 and the traditional fixture against Exeter School on September 3 before taking on Devonport Colts at home on September 7 in the first of their Colts Cup Group games.
With most of last seasons players available for the 2024-25 season and the addition of some of the Colts who have come up to the senior sides, competition for places will certainly be keen.
Paul Harris