Norton test awaiting champions in opener (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Norton test awaiting champions in opener

SWINDON will face familiar faces when they begin their quest for Southern Counties North glory on September 3.

Last season's Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier Division champions will travel to Chipping Norton, who finished second behind the Greenbridge Road side.

Chippenham will host Spartans as they start life in South West One.

The start of the Southern Counties South programme also has a familiar ring to it as Wootton Bassett and Devizes face each other in a repeat of last year's opener, with Bassett hosting this time.

Swindon College go to Farnham Royal as they start life in the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier, while relegated Minety host Westbury in Dorset & Wilts One North.

Fairford, having secured a transfer from the Gloucestershire leagues, are also at home on the opening day in the newly-formed Dorset & Wilts Three North, Swindon College 2nd their opponents.

POWERGEN SOUTH WEST DIVISION OPENING FIXTURES 2005-05

(Local teams' matches in bold)

September 3

South West One: Basingstoke v Oxford Harlequins, Chinnor v Weston-super-Mare, Chippenham v Spartans (SW), Clevedon v Maidenhead, Clifton v Reading Abbey, Penryn v Cheltenham.

Southern Counties North: Amersham & Chiltern v Beaconsfield, Buckingham v Stow, Chipping Norton v Swindon, Olney v Redingensians, Slough v Grove, Witney v Bletchley.

Southern Counties South: Blandford v Cooper Avon Tyres, Corsham v Sherborne, Dorchester v Trowbridge, Oldfield Old Boys v North Dorset, Tadley v Frome, Wootton Bassett v Devizes.

Gloucester One (September 10): Bream v Bishopston, Cheltenham Civil Service v Cirencester, Chipping Sodbury v Southmead, Old Bristolians v Frampton Cotterell, Tewkesbury v Bristol Saracens.

Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier: Chesham v Bicester, Farnham Royal v Swindon College Old Boys, Littlemore v Oxford, Newbury Stags v Milton Keynes, Phoenix v Gosford All Blacks, Wallingford v Drifters.

Dorset & Wilts One North: Calne v Bradford on Avon, Cricklade v Wootton Bassett 2nds, Minety v Westbury, Supermarine v Pewsey Vale, Swindon 2nd v Malmesbury.

Dorset & Wilts Two North (September 10): Chippenham 3rd v Aldbourne Dabchicks, Frome 2nd v Warminster, Marlborough v Swindon 3rd, Trowbridge 2nd v Hungerford, Wootton Bassett 3rd v Devizes 2nd.

Dorset & Wilts Three North: Combe Down 2nd v Bradford on Avon 2nd, Corsham 2nd v Sutton Benger, Fairford v Swindon College Old Boys 2nd, Minety 2nd v Supermarine 2nd, Trowbridge 3rd v Devizes 3rd.