DESPITE finishing second bottom last season, Bude RFC have accepted an invitation to remain in Counties One Western West for the 2024/25 season.

Following a meeting between the club and players, it was decided to remain at Step Seven where they are joined by the second teams of Barnstaple and Redruth for the new season.

Falmouth, who finished bottom, have gone down to Counties Two Cornwall, while last year’s champions Tiverton, who won it on points difference from Paignton, have taken promotion up to Regional Two South West.

No sides have come down from the league above due to Burnham-on-Sea and Chard going into the other Counties One leagues.

Bude know they will have to be much improved to avoid another long season of struggle, and have a tough start.

They go down to West Cornwall on September 7 to take on St Ives, before seasoned Step Seven outfit Kingsbridge are the first visitors to Bencoolen Meadow a week later.

An already difficult month gets tougher as they visit Paignton on September 21 which precedes a clash with Plymstock Albion Oaks who led the division for much of last term.

October will be key to their hopes.

A short trip up to Bideford gets the month going on the 12th before they entertain Redruth Seconds a week later.

The second rest week of the season is on November 2 and Bude are away from home either side.

They round off October with a clash at Tavistock before going down to Penryn on November 9.

The ever-dangerous Pirates Amateurs provide the opposition on November 16 before they head up to Barnstaple Seconds a fortnight later.

A visit from last year’s fellow strugglers Wiveliscombe rounds off the first half of the season on December 7. The final away trip before Christmas is at Kingsbridge (December 14).

The Christmas spirit will be in full swing at Bencoolen Meadow a week later when Paignton visit.

As usual besides the opening game also being the last, which means Bude welcome St Ives on April 5, the fixtures are played in the same order.

Bude’s home game with Bideford, which always attracts a big crowd to Bencoolen Meadow is set for January 11.

Bude Seconds had a tough campaign in Counties Three Cornwall last year, winning just one game and having to concede on a couple of occasions.

They are in a new-look division which has seen Hayle and Wadebridge Seconds go up to be replaced by Illogan Park and Camborne School of Mines.

There are three new second teams to face in Penryn, St Ives and Truro, meaning a 15-team division but only 18 league games.

Although the season starts on September 7, Bude are the odd team out on the opening weekend.

The Seasiders get underway a week later at St Austell Thirds which is followed by a visit from their Falmouth counterparts.

The first rest weekend is on October 5 with Bude rounding off September at Redruth Albany before getting back into the swing of things with a visit from Illogan Park on the 12th.

The always-eagerly anticipated derby with Launceston is at Polson Bridge on October 19 before they welcome newcomers St Ives to round off the month.

Bude return to action on November 9 at Camborne School of Mines who play at the Tremough Campus in Penryn, while much-fancied Camborne Seconds are the visitors on November 16.

The games leading up to Christmas see them face Penryn Seconds away, Roseland at home, Lankelly-Fowey away and Truro at home on December 14.

Bude have seven league games in the new year, culminating in a visit from Penryn Seconds on April 5.