Sidmouth Chiefs face a tough, but interesting, start to their 2009-10 campaign in the newly named South West One West League, writes Terry O'Brien.

Sidmouth Chiefs face a tough, but interesting, start to their 2009-10 campaign in the newly named South West One West League, writes Terry O'Brien. Their first two games are against the newly-promoted champions of the respective Western Counties Leagues. They start the season on Saturday, September 5, at Cullompton who won the West Division with a 100 per cent record and went on to win the Senior Vase at Twickenham. Their only defeat came in the final of the Devon Senior Cup against Barnstaple.The following week they entertain Hartpury College, who suffered only one defeat in winning the North Division. Hartpury also successfully defended the Intermediate Cup with a comfortable victory over South West Champions Clifton.The other teams promoted to the league, which has been extended to 14 teams, are old rivals Ivybridge and Gloucester side Chosen Hill Former Pupils. The Chiefs will have their work cut out to match their last season's fifth place finish in what is shaping up to be an extremely competitive league. The club holds its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, July 16, in the clubhouse starting at 7.30pm. One of the main items on the agenda will be the election of a new Honorary Secretary to replace long serving Paul Rossiter, who found it necessary to stand down during the season due to the conflicting demands of a new job. Paul fulfilled the role with both efficiency and enthusiasm. He will be difficult to replace.