TUG Wilson is expecting Witney’s title as the top Oxfordshire club in South West 1 East to come under threat.

The west Oxfordshire side travel to local rivals Banbury in their season opener on Saturday.

Witney finished fifth last year and as the county’s top side in English rugby’s sixth tier for the third campaign in a row.

But head coach Wilson, who has kept the majority of last season’s squad together, predicts a challenging season.

He said: “It’s going to be really difficult this year.

“It’s a strong league, quite a distance to travel, so if we come out as the top Oxfordshire club we have done really well.”