TORRINGTON are ready to make a nuisance of themselves again in Tribute Cornwall/Devon.

They may have only finished 11th in the 14-team division last season, but Torrington defeated four of the teams that finished in the top half — Exeter Saracens, Crediton, Bideford and Liskeard-Looe — along the way.

And with a stronger squad waiting to kick off the new season on Saturday, a few more scalps are likely to follow this term.

Adrian Avery, the Torrington hooker and captain, said: "We showed we can compete with the big boys, we had some good wins.

"Last season was a foundation year, learning about the league and the teams playing in it. Now we have got to look to improve.

"Survival is again the key, but this season we will be looking to push on, we've got to set our sights to finish in mid-table."

It is no coincidence that all four of those big wins were at home, where Torrington start the new season against Falmouth on Saturday afternoon.

"We know we can play at home, we get good support and we look at Donnacroft as a fortress, but our away form was awful last season," said Avery.

A group of young players have joined from Barnstaple, adding to a squad built around tried-and-trusted performers such as Avery and Andy Manning.

The fly half, who scored 214 points last season, will again be a key figure.

Avery said: "The only time we've seen him this summer is when he's been running our fitness training, so he's been a bit of a pain in the neck, making us run miles.

"He's still going strong, he's a huge link between the forwards and backs, and we'll rely on his boot this season again.

"We've had a few more boys come in, though we've not been out and searched. We've got a bit of strength in depth now, which is important.

"Our team in pre-season (a win over Bude and defeat to North Tawton) has been a bit inconsistent, we've been missing a lot of players.

"So it's difficult to gauge where we are.

"We will find out on Saturday when Falmouth come up — that's going to be a real test."

Away from the league, Torrington will need to pull off another upset if they are to fulfil their aim of a cup run.

They have been drawn away to Torquay Athletic, of Western Counties west, in the first round of the Landscape Devon Intermediate Cup.

Torrington 2010-11 fixtures (Tribute Cornwall/Devon unless stated) — Sept 4: Falmouth (H). Sept 11: St Austell (A). Sept 18: Honiton (H). Sept 25: Liskeard-Looe (A). Oct 2: Roseland (H). Oct 9: Saltash (A). Oct 16: Teignmouth (H). Oct 23: Stithians (A). Oct 30: Hayle (H). Nov 6: Torquay (Devon Intermediate Cup, A). Nov 13: Withycombe (H). Nov 20: Totnes (A). Nov 27: Bideford (H). Dec 4: Crediton (A). Dec 11: St Austell (H). Dec 18: Honiton (A). Dec 26: South Molton (friendly, A). Jan 8: Liskeard-Looe (H). Jan 15: Roseland (A). Jan 22: Saltash (H). Jan 29: Teignmouth (A). Feb 5: Stithians (H). Feb 19: Hayle (A). March 5: Withycombe (A). March 12: Totnes (H). March 26: Bideford (A). April 9: Crediton (H). April 16: Falmouth (A).