Old Centralians kick off their new South West One East campaign at home to Royal Wootton Bassett tomorrow (2.30pm) and the aim in 2019/20 is to go one better than last season.

The club reached the end-of-season play-offs last time out, missing out on a place in South West Premier when they went down 33-22 to Launceston in Cornwall.

The club finished the regular South West One East season as runners-up to runaway winners Newbury but chairman Stan Fritchley believes they can end this campaign on top of the pile.

“Yes, we’re going for the title,” he confirmed. “We didn’t think we were quite ready last season but this season the players are all a bit older and they definitely want it.

“That’s the target this season, to go one step further.”

The end-of-season North Gloucestershire Combination Cup games are also a big target of course. The club won all three cups last season and Fritchley said: “We had a great season last time and we’d like to win all three again, that would be nice.”

There’s an awful lot of rugby to be played before those matches come around, of course, starting with Royal Wootton Bassett tomorrow and Fritchley certainly isn’t taking the Wiltshire side – or any other club in the division for that matter – lightly.

“Wootton Bassett is always a hard game, it will give us a good indication of where we are,” added Fritchley.

The signs are certainly good if pre-season is anything to go by with Fritchley adding: “We played Newbold up near Coventry and beat them 62-7 and we beat Earlsdon, also from Coventry, a couple of weeks ago and beat them 50-5.”

Jack Preece, who is playing for Hartpury this season, will again head up the coaching set-up while Sam Preece, Jack’s cousin, will captain the side.

Jack Preece will be assisted by former Cinderford player Rob Winchle, who will look after the backs.

“He brought a lot of stability to our back line last season,” said Fritchley, who is hoping the club will be able to turn out a regular 2nd XV this season.

“We’ve had up to 40 players turning up for training so that is the hope,” he added.