While Cinderford and Drybrook have been grabbing much of the attention for their exploits in National Two South and South West One West respectively, their Forest of Dean neighbours Berry Hill have been quietly going about their business to very good effect.

So much so that they need just a couple of points from their final two games to clinch the Gloucester One title.

And the smart money would be on them achieving their goal on Saturday because they host bottom-of-the-table St Brendan’s Old Boys.

“Yes, it’s been a very good season,” said team manager James Elsmore, “and hopefully we’ll use it to go from strength to strength.

“Over the last few seasons we’ve done a lot of rebuilding and we’ve got a lot of young players coming through.

“The coaching staff have put in a huge amount of effort – Ady Powles, Mike Stubbs and current captain Andrew Wright.

“Ben Lewis is another. He worked alongside Ady and Mike last season but this season he has concentrated on playing and has been very influential on the pitch.

“It’s been a real good team effort and everyone has made a significant contribution.”

They haven’t quite clinched the title yet of course and they will be very keen to do so this weekend because their final game is at in-form Widden Old Boys who are making a late charge for the second promotion spot.

“We’ll be looking to win it on Saturday,” said Elsmore. “It would be nice to win it on our ground.”

Promotion would mean a place back in Gloucester Premier alongside the likes of Gordon League, Longlevens and Hucclecote and it’s a level that Berry Hill have played at in the recent past.

The club have a very proud history, of course, one that stretches back over 125 years.

And while there is great pride in what has been achieved over the years, there is also a big determination to concentrate on the here and now.

Players such as number eight Michael Griffiths, second row Luke Powles – the nephew of Ady – and scrum-half Danny Harris are very much part of the present.

“We were always batting well above our average when we were competing in the national leagues in the 1990s,” added Elsmore, who is in his second spell as team manager.

“Our philosophy has always been that we won’t pay players and our junior set-up is second-to-none.

“We’ve put a lot of time, effort and money into our junior section and bringing players through into the 1st XV.

“But if any of them have got potential we certainly won’t stop them from moving on.”

And moving on is what Berry Hill are doing as a club.

“We want to be running a Colts side either next season or the season after,” said Elsmore.

“We want to give our promising 16-year-olds the chance to develop before they are pushed into adult rugby.”

Throw in a “very good executive committee” and it’s not difficult to see why the good times have returned to Berry Hill.