NEW skipper Jon Beachey believes Cirencester's Gloucestershire Premier Division opener at Drybrook on Saturday will set the tone for his side's campaign.

Front row Beachey, appointed by new Whiteway coach Brian Johnson in the summer, reckons victory or defeat in the Forest of Dean will go a long way to proving whether the club can mount a promotion bid.

Certainly, Ciren will be hoping for a better ending than the turbulent final months of last season, when the wheels well and truly came off.

Promotion was most definitely in the air when Gloucester rivals Spartans arrived at the Whiteway on December 22 last year.

A home crowd numbering more than 300 and a superb home performance saw off the visitors 18-6 and suddenly Ciren were top.

But the decline set in almost immediately. In their next game, Rick Scott's men were humbled by bottom-of-the-table Hucclecote and they never recovered.

Out went Scott and the campaign tailed off to see them finish in a disappointing fourth spot, also losing to Painswick in the Stroud Combination Cup final.

But Ciren seem better equipped to last the distance now.

Back has come Beachey, after a spell playing for National League side Charlton Park,while Matt Pauling's strong running and tactical rugby brain has returned to the back row

The powerful Matt Coe has also returned and Tristan Chippendale is a useful asset at No 8.

But perhaps the most striking new faces are those of the coaching staff.

Ex-England A man Johnson has taken charge, while his fellow Gloucester old boys, Kiwi Simon Mannix now playing for Bridgend and Nigel Scrivens will assist.

Beachey said: "Brian is one of the best I've ever worked with.

"In training sessions, everything is done for a reason and he treats everyone the same.''

Johnson's nous is added to an already-strong backbone, featuring the likes of fly-half Adam Seager and scrum-half Nick Bassett, giving Ciren plenty of hope for the campaign.

Elsewhere in the club, The seconds will be looked after by Paul Weavin with Matt Crawford taking charge of the thirds and acting as club captain.

"We have to look to win the league,'' admitted Beachey. "We have the players, although possibly not the strength in depth and on our day, we can beat anyone in this league comfortably and a few from the league higher.

"It's not necessarily the best players, but the players with the mental strength that are the winners.

"If we can win at Drybrook, the confidence boost will be massive.''

A Ciren second string saw off Gloucester-based Old Richians 27-3.

Richians grabbed the lead with a penalty, but Henry Church scored a try and Ciren never looked back.

Further tries followed from Barefoot, skipper Beachey and Ramsey, who also kicked a penalty, Adam Seager kicking two conversions.