All-conquering Cheltenham North Women are on course to clinch back-to-back titles.

They are top of the seven-strong NC 2 South West (North) after winning their first five games of the season and tomorrow host bottom-of-the-table Greyhound Ladies.

They’ve already put 90-plus points on Aretians Ladies and Thornbury Women and scored more than 80 points at Ashley Down Old Boys Women.

Ashley Down were promoted from NC 3 South West (North) last season alongside Cheltenham North.

The teams finished level on points – they both won 13 out of 14 – but the North have kicked on massively this season.

“We’re doing really well,” said Mark French, who is in his first season as head coach. “We’ve got a really good culture at the club, it’s performance-based but we’re grassroots at heart.

“We take the rugby seriously but we’re having fun as well.”

Prop Hannah Kibble, who is in her first season as captain, is leading from the front and everyone has bought into what the club are trying to achieve.

“It’s a collective effort,” said French. “There’s a great spirit in the squad and they all fight for each other, they are very together.”

The North beat Chipping Sodbury Women 29-0 in their most recent outing – Chipping Sodbury had won their first three games – and French continued: “We’re strong all round. We’ve got very quick, skillful backs and we’ve got a powerful, mobile pack.”

And they are ambitious.

A place in NC 1 South West (East) where Hucclecote Ladies and Drybrook Ladies both play is very much the aim for next season and if they do get there French believes they will do well.

“With the calibre of players we’ve got I’d like to think we could challenge for a top-two finish,” said French, who is also head of the women’s and girls’ pathway at the club.

“It would be a big step up but it would be good to go and challenge ourselves.”

“We want to go as high as we can. We’d like to get into Championship 1 but it has to be sustainable.”

The club runs girls’ age group teams for under-12s, 14s, 16s and 18s and French added that they are hoping to start a women’s 2^nd team “in the next year or so”.