LUCTONIANS kick-off their competitive rugby season on September 3 with a visit from Spalding in the new Powergen National Trophy.

The trophy, which contains Bromsgrove and Whitchurch as well as Luctonians from the North Midlands, has been introduced because the Powergen cup is Anglo-Welsh this season and includes clubs from the Guinness Premiership and the four Welsh super-districts.

Greyhound are also in cup action on September 3 when they visit Standard for a preliminary round tie in the Powergen Junior Vase.

Bromyard must wait until September 17 for their first taste of cup action when they entertain Wheaton Aston or Stourport in the first round of the Junior Vase.

Hereford and Ledbury are also both in cup action on September 17 in the first round of the Powergen Intermediate Cup with Hereford visiting Telford Hornets and Ledbury at home to Shrewsbury.

Hereford and Ledbury both get their league programmes underway in Midlands 3 West (South) on September 3.

Hereford visit Stratford-upon-Avon while Ledbury are also on the road with Old Coventrians their destination.

The North Midlands (South) 2 campaign gets underway on September 10 when Greyhound entertain Bromyard while Ross-on-Wye play host to Tredworth in Gloucester 3 (North) on the same day.

l Greyhound warmed up for the start of the season proper by beating a Ledbury side 42-0.

Tries came from Leigh Simpson, Patrick Hill, Martin Ackery, David Bentham (2) and Kevin Bufton. Adam Preece and Bufton added one conversion each with Hill kicking the other four.

l Hereford under-18 are busy preparing for their first match of the season on Sunday, September 4 when Cheltenham are the visitors to Wyeside.

The squad will be hoping to start the new season in the same vein as they concluded the previous one which ended with a fine 33-15 success over Middles-brough in the final of the Vale of Lune tournament last May.

Training takes place on a Thursday night, starting at 7pm and anyone wishing to join at under-18 or under-19 level should call Phil Rees on 07884 078958 or simply turn up on Thursday evenings.