Dartmouth Hockey Club are back in full training and ready for a new challenge in Petroc 1 after being promoted last season.

Coaches Chater and Edwards have an interesting season ahead following the departure of three regulars from last season and a change in club captain, but they welcome back Jo Rendle from Torbay, who will be a boost to the defence.

Former players Sam Webb and Bonny Chivers have also returned following a good few years out of the game to try their luck once more.

Lucy Pillar takes over the captain role from Siobhan Edwards, who has stood down. Lucy captained a good start to the season with a welcome training match that allowed all newcomers to play on Saturday.

Experiments with a new line-up looked very positive as it brought plenty of goals and fluid play.

'Petroc 1 will be a tall order for us and we will be the team everybody expects to beat this season' says Edwards.

'That said, we do have the knack of upsetting the form book occasionally'.

'With that in mind, we will be hoping to lift our game as we face Kingsbridge in a local derby for the opening match.

'Kingsbridge have been playing great hockey for a few seasons now and they are very strong, they will be clear favourites for this game.

Our first problem is getting eleven fit players on the field as late summer colds have hit us hard'.

Off the pitch, it is also all change as the girls have had to find a new venue for post-match teas due to their former Rugby Club hosts' departure of their facilities.

A decision based on ease of parking and 'somewhere different' takes them to the Sportsman's Arms.

Dartmouth's first match in the league takes place tomorrow at 10.30am, when they face KS Cougars at Kingsbridge Community College.