In-form Cirencester climbed into the top two in Counties 3 Gloucestershire North with a hard-fought 22-14 win against Hucclecote on Saturday.

Hucclecote had arrived at the Whiteway in second place but Cirencester’s seventh win in eight games means they are now the closest challengers to leaders Cheltenham Saracens.

“We’re doing really well at the moment,” said head coach Chris Maundrell. “We’ve had a good influx of young players coming through into the senior squad, it’s been good.”

Maundrell took charge of the 1^st XV at the start of last season having previously run the 2nds for half a season.

“We’ve got a new coaching team this season,” he said. “Lee Davies is the backs coach and Neil Bunce is looking after the forwards.

“I was on my own last season but the three of us are a team, we are all on the same page and the players have bought into it.

“The forwards have been outstanding. They are a small pack but they are really tough and work hard.

“The backs are outstanding, they’re quick and physical. Our team is built on a strong defence and then in the last 20 minutes we open the throttle.”

They’ve scored 306 points in their nine league games – only Hucclecote have scored more – but Maundrell warned: “The next six weeks will be the toughest part of the season before the ground hardens up again.”

Cirencester travel to Coney Hill on Saturday before hosting Spartans on the final Saturday before Christmas and they want to turn up the heat on the leaders who have a three-point advantage and have played one game fewer.

“Promotion is the aim, we intend to finish top,” Maundrell said. “Sarries are deservedly top at the moment but things change.

“I think it will be very tight, it’s very exciting, we are all well up for it. In my mind, we still haven’t fielded our best team because of injuries and unavailabilities.”

Cirencester were one of a number of clubs who dropped down from Counties 2 Gloucestershire North at the end of the last campaign following a league restructure and Maundrell, who is 57, added: “I tried not to look at it as a demotion.”

They lost their opening game of the new season to Gloucester Old Boys, but since then only Cheltenham Saracens have got the better of them.

The Cheltenham club travel to Cirencester on Saturday 28^th February, a game which will see Maundrell lock horns with Saracens head coach Phil Watters, someone he knows well from his days with England Police's rugby set-up.

“I was assistant forwards coach,” said Maundrell, who lives in Minety. “I’m an ex-police officer, I’ve always been massively involved in rugby.

“I went to the old College of St Paul and St Mary in Cheltenham and played with the likes of Dave Hinkins, Tim Beddow, Adrian Bick and Jon Callard.

“We had a good side and we beat Berry Hill in the days when they had a strong team, they didn’t like that!”

Maundrell, a back row who played for Devizes among a number of other clubs, actually played his last game against Berry Hill, and it was as recently as last season.

“I went on for the last 20-25 minutes, we only had 17 players,” he explained. “I deliberately don’t take any boots to a game but someone found a pair that fitted, it was a mistake!”

At least Cirencester won the game and they’ve already beaten Berry Hill 58-34 at the Whiteway this season.

The return is on Valentine’s Day and Maundrell would love it if they could complete the double over the Forest of Dean side which would then set them up nicely for their next game against Cheltenham Saracens.