HELENSBURGH Rugby Club's first XV opened their competitive account for the season with victory away to Cumbernauld on Saturday.

The Grizzlies progressed to the first round of the BT West Shield with a comfortable 24-0 victory in the preliminary round tie at Auchenkilns.

Helensburgh's success against their West 2 opponents sets them up for a trip to Ayrshire to play Garnock in the first round this Saturday, August 26.

Garnock progressed after their preliminary round opponents, Oban Lorne, withdrew from the competition because of a lack of players.

Kick-off between the West 1 rivals this Saturday is at 3pm.

Last Saturday's other BT West Shield results were as follows: Greenock Wanderers P-P Stewartry (Stewartry withdrew); Millbrae 23-35 Lenzie; Carrick 65-5 Strathendrick; Strathaven 7-28 Irvine; Allan Glen's P-P East Kilbride (East Kilbride withdrew).

First round fixtures this Saturday: Birkmyre v Uddingston, Loch Lomond v Clydebank, Paisley v Lenzie, Garnock v Helensburgh, Allan Glen's v Carrick, Annan v Irvine, Cumnock v Greenock Wanderers.

Helensburgh begin their West 1 league campaign with an away fixture against East Kilbride on Saturday, September 2; the Grizzlies' first home league fixture sees Stewartry visit Ardencaple on September 9.