Cheltenham North are ready for their biggest challenge of the season so far when old rivals Old Patesians come calling on Saturday.

The North have made a blistering start to the new campaign, winning all eight of their Counties 2 Gloucestershire North games and averaging more than 40 points a game, but this is their first test against a top-four side.

They are currently second in the table, five points behind Smiths and level with the Pats, who have won six and drawn one of their opening eight games.

The North won only nine of their 20 league games last season as they finished sixth, four places and 37 points below the Pats, but they’re very much in the mix at the top end of the 12-strong division this time around.

“It’s been a big turnaround,” said head coach Dan Thomas, a former player and captain at the club. “I’m delighted, the boys have been really dedicated from the 1’s through to the United.

“We’ve got 20 lads wanting to play in the veterans’ game on Saturday, the way the club is, it’s buzzing, it’s fantastic.”

Thomas, who took over as head coach midway through last season, has played a big part in the club’s upturn.

He’s in his third season as a coach at the club and, like his coaching staff, he is Cheltenham North through and through.

“It’s the old saying, if you cut us open we bleed red and black,” he said.

“We hope the players buy into our ethos and they have, it’s come from within, their attitude has been brilliant.

“Things are changing at the club and that breeds interest, get a bit of success and that breeds more interest.

“We’re dedicated to keeping things local, we want as many players to come to training as possible.”

And they certainly have been turning up for training in their numbers, which in turn has helped improve how the North prepare for games.

“Our line-out is better and our scrum is better,” said Thomas. “We’ve recruited some new players and as the squad has grown that has allowed us to improve our skills.”

And the improvement in the set-piece has allowed the backs to continue to flourish.

The North have become renowned in the past few seasons as a team who will run the ball from almost anywhere and Thomas said: “We love to chuck it around. Sam Coles, Jack Fowler, Ray Gurung, Will Allenby and Atama Raura all want to run with the ball.

“We’ve got a structure from which they can play, if it’s on they can do it.”

Both the North and the Pats have been scoring tries for fun this season and Thomas continued: “Both sides will play exciting rugby on Saturday but it’s going to be a tough game, a real tough one, there’s a lovely rivalry between the clubs.

“We are stepping into Christmas with games against the other teams at the top, the Pats, Smiths and Old Richians.”

The North travel to Richians at the end of the month and host Smiths at the start of December and Thomas continued: “We want to finish in the top three, I think we’ll be in the mix with Pats and Smiths for the top three, I think Old Richians will be fourth.”

The Pats beat the North twice last season but Thomas believes his side can maintain their perfect start to the season at the weekend.

“We need to start well,” he said. “If we do that, it will work in our favour. If we start slowly it will be tough but with home advantage I think we will just edge it.”

It’s going to be a busy day for 45-year-old Thomas because he’s also playing in the veterans’ game against the Pats, a game which takes place  before the league clash.