THE new rugby union league season gets under way this Saturday and there are high hopes some of the local clubs will do well in the months ahead.

Caldy are due at Hull Ionians in National Two North. Simon Verbickas is the new head coach and Andy Soutar the new captain with Tom Sanders vice-captain.

The Paton Field outfit has a number of new players incuding lock Louis Magowan from Sedgley Park, England Sevens flyer Nick Royle and back-row man Gareth Tudor from Vale of Lune and prop Mark Williams from New Brighton.

Jack Lavin also joins the squad following his time at University.

Wirral have Rossendale as visitors as they begin their first ever spell in National Three North.

Birkenhead Park who came close to joining them but lost a promotion play off remain in North One West and have an arduous trip to the Lake District to meet Kendal.

New Brighton who won promotion from South Lancashire/Cheshire One have Wilmslow as their first oppoents at Hartsfield.

Anselmians and Hoylake travel away in South Lancashure/Cheshire One to Northwich and Winnington Park respectively.

Division Two fixtures include Port Sunlight v Southport and Prenton v Ormskirk whilst in Division Three Oldershaw welcome Ellesmere Port and Oxtn Parkonians have Congleton as visitors to Holm Lane.

Wallasey do not have a game.

Caldy defeated Birkenhead Park 40-7 in the quarter final of the Cheshire Cup at the Upper Park last Saturday.

It was a brave effort by Park who should have been in the Vase but were put in the Cup to make up the numbers after disciplinary action against another club.

Two early tries by Gavin Roberts put Caldy in the diving seat.

Dave Hall converted a Dave Ibbotson touch down for Birkenhead but the visitors gained four more tries through Liam Devaney, Richard Vasey, Nick Royle and a substitute. Vasey added five goals.

A big blow for Park was the loss of two props including new skipper Matt Ibbotson who was taken to hospital for assessment. It meant scrums had to be uncontested for more than half the time.

New Brighton tried hard in the Vase at Northwich but were elininated 19-26.

Hoylake also went out 10-45 at Winnington Park where Tom Corkhill and Ian Stevenson crossed.