IT'S been a summer of comings and goings for Berry Hill, who start life in South West One this Saturday at home to Thornbury.

Two club stalwarts, Lee Osborne and Shaun McRoberts, have retired from first-team rugby, while Clive Ryder has returned to Bream as player/coach.

Kurt Brown and Greg Jordan have joined Lydney, while Josh Cook has moved to London and will be playing for Thurrock. Powerhouse prop Luke Hunter is also unlikely to figure because he has a court case pending, as well as a back injury.

Berry Hill player/coach Brett Scriven is far from downbeat, however, having made some shrewd signings.

Gareth Pittaway, who Scriven calls the White Rhino, is back in action and showing up well in the front-row, while Sam Coombes has joined from Lydney.

Mike Wright, the brother of hooker Andy Wright, is set to get more game time, as is scrum-half Chris Watkins, now fit again after injury.

Dave Croudace is available to play at 10, with Jason Rowles stepping up from Cinderford Stags. Another good signing is Liam Jackson from Drybrook.

Jackson played in the second-row at Drybrook, but Berry Hill plan to use him in the back-row.

Scriven said: "A lot of the younger players will be a bit more experienced and winger Adam Howells has beefed up on the weights.

"I honestly think we'll do OK in the higher division.

"I think we have to target our home games and pick up what we can away.

"We know all about Thornbury, our opponents this week, because we played them four times last year and won three of them."

Berry Hill warmed-up for their league opener by defeating a strong Swindon team 19-12.

The Swindon side contained their new signing from Lydney, Charlie Vine, as well as another former Lydney man Adam Westall.

Danny Richards (2) and Mike Coghlan touched down for Hill, with Aaron Ryder adding two conversions.

Saturday's victory was overshadowed by an injury to full-back Ryder that is likely to keep him out for six weeks.