A TRIP to Puddletown lies in store for the Weymouth and Portland first XV in their opening Dorset & Wilts Two South fixture of next season.

The seaside club, who added Portland to their name earlier this month, will meet the Villagers at Greenfields on September 13.

It is set to be a special day for the club as not only will they be playing a league match under a new name for the first time but, as Weymouth, they had to withdraw their firsts from competitive games last season due to dwindling player numbers.

And they only have to wait until the second Saturday of the campaign before locking horns with rivals Dorchester at Monmouth Avenue.

The county town club, meanwhile, go head-to-head with Swanage & Wareham in a double header between the two on the opening day.

While Dorchester’s first XV kick off their Southern Counties South campaign at Bestwall, the two second strings meet at Coburg Road in Dorset & Wilts Two South on the same afternoon.

As well as familiar local opponents Sherborne, North Dorset and Wimborne, the county town’s first team will face Midsomer Norton for the first time and renew rivalries with Salisbury, Supermarine and Bradford-on-Avon.

Needless to say Dorchester are going to be hoping for an improvement on last season’s 10th place.

Dorchester have also entered a third team which will compete in the lowest league, Dorset & Wilts Four, with six other sides, including Weymouth and Portland Thirds.

The seasiders’ second XV take their place in Dorset & Wilts Three South.

Pre-season training at Monmouth Avenue starts in early July and the club say new players are more than welcome.

Anyone interested in joining should ring Chris Davis on 07576129254.