THE draws for the Cornwall RFU's knockout competions were made at a fixture secretaries' meeting held in the Perranporth Rugby clubhouse.

This season's competition is again being sponsored by Skinner's Brewery of Truro, but Penzance-Newlyn have decided not to enter the Senior Cup. This will prove disappointing news for the rest of the Cornish clubs, but the Pirates have found accommodating the dates has not been the easiest of tasks when taking their league fixtures into account and has led to their withdrawal.

The Pirates, over the past two seasons, have been unquestionably Cornwall's top league team.

Launceston, who can now claim second place in the Cornish rugby hierarchy, and Redruth (third), have been given byes into the second round of the Senior Cup competition.

The first round should be played on the weekend of December 28/29 and has paired the following clubs: Bude v St Ives, Perranporth v Penryn, Saltash v Wadebridge Camels, Truro vHayle, Camborne v St Just and Newquay Hornets v St Austell.

The current holders of the Skinners Cup, Truro, have a home tie against Hayle and runners-up Penryn have an away tie at Ponsmere Valley against Perranporth.

All six fixtures look very keen ones with local pride very much at stake in most.

The second round will be played on February 15/16, 2003, for most clubs, but not the clubs who will be involved with Launceston and Redruth.

Those two clubs will have to play on the March 8/9 due to the All Blacks and the Reds' league commitments.

The semi-finals will be played on the weekend of March 22/23.

The final will be in April.

Last season's senior final at Redruth between Truro, who defeated Penryn, in a cracker of a game certainly drew a good-sized crowd.

The Cornwall Clubs' Cup competition is growing in stature and competition is very keen.

The first round, which will be played on the weekend of November 23/24, 2002, pairs Perranporth, last season's beaten finalists, at home to Lankelly-Fowey.

The rest of the draw is: Veor v Illogan Park, St Day v Liskeard-Looe, Mount's Bay v Redruth Albany, Stithians v Helston, Roseland v Bodmin, Callington v Falmouth, and Saltash v St Agnes.

The second round will be played week ending January 25/26.

The semi-finals will again be played over two legs, the dates, are - first leg, February 22/23, second Leg, Mack 22/23.

The final will be played over the Easter weekend in April.