WIVELISCOMBE lst XV have made a good start to the 2024-25 season and after four rounds of matches they sit fifth in the Western Counties (West) table, having won three of their opening four games.

Head coach Rob Weaver, who started his rugby career at the club as a 14 year old, is more than pleased with the way that the Wivey Boys have started the new campaign.

“To have won three of the opening four matches is what we were hoping for, in fact perhaps more than we had hoped!

“The lads are all going well and we are getting great numbers to our training sessions, on Tuesday and Thursdays’, always more than 30. They are all definitely buying into what they are being asked to do and we are seeing the benefit from that.”

Rob has expanded the coaching team and working alongside him this season are Mark Chatterton, Alex Westcott, Tom Pearce, Tommy Wyatt , Jamie Cook and Vince Carrington.

“The coaching team that we have got are doing a great job and the good start that we have made is very much down to them .They are all doing a great job and making my job much easier.

“There is a really good atmosphere here at the moment and it always helps of course when you are winning - the girls have won all of their games and we have only lost one, and the seconds have won.

“We are also managing to field two teams on a Saturday which makes it easier so if you do have anyone drop out of the first team squad then at least anybody who comes up knows the patterns of play and what is expected of them.”

“Now that we have got a bigger coaching group it means that we have always got someone who can run the coaching sessions, which takes the onus away from senior players - they can get on and train rather then having to coach.

“We are just breaking the season down into little targets and looking at groups of games that we can concentrate on and anything you pick up outside of that is a massive bonus.

On Saturday, October 12, the Wivey boys make the long trip down to Cornwall to face St Ives.

“We have picked up some injuries but having a week off we are hoping to have a few of them back for the St Ives trip,” added Weaver. “Although we won’t be at full strength, we’re still feeling confident of going down and getting the result that we want on the road.”

Rob added: “St Ives are next to bottom but that means nothing in this league where everyone is capable of beating any of the other teams.”