Gloucester Old Boys maintained the pressure on leaders Stroud with an impressive 17-7 win over Old Patesians on Saturday.

Stroud, 43-36 winners over Bredon Star at the weekend, are in the driving seat in Counties 3 Gloucestershire North, but second-placed Gloucester Old Boys are certainly in the title hunt after overcoming one of the ‘big four’ in the 11-strong division.

“It was a very good game of rugby,” said Gloucester Old Boys secretary Steve Smith, a former player with the club. “Both sides fought hard, we were just stronger on the day.

“They looked dangerous when they went wide but our pack was stronger.”

Tries by Ryan McGurk, Liam Aherne and Owen O’Keefe, and a conversion by Taylor Unett, earned Gloucester Old Boys the victory that leaves them 10 points adrift of Stroud with five games to play.

And one of those five games sees Gloucester Old Boys host Stroud on Saturday 11^th March, a game that could yet decide the title.

And it’s a game Gloucester Old Boys will certainly approach with confidence because they remain the only side to have beaten Stroud this season, winning 18-8 at Fromehall Park on the opening day of the season.

“The pack is our cornerstone but we’ve got quite a good balance,” said Smith. “We’ve got some good backs.”

Gloucester Old Boys’ final game is at third-placed Widden Old Boys on 18^th March so there’s all to play for over the coming weeks.

“It’s quite close,” continued Smith. “It’s going to be a big end to the season. Promotion is really what we are after but there is nothing like winning a title.

“Nobody knows what’s going to happen next season, it could be that second place isn’t enough to win promotion.”

Another season at their current level would be a blow to Gloucester Old Boys, who finished eighth in the old Gloucestershire 2 North last season, with Smith admitting the club were a “bit disappointed” to be placed in Counties 3 Gloucestershire North following the league’s restructure.

Gloucester Old Boys, who are captained by second row Dominic Chant, host lowly Minchinhampton on Saturday, while fourth-placed Old Pats face a must-win game at home to Widden Old Boys.

The Pats still have seven games to play – they trail Stroud by 17 points – and Stroud must travel to Everest Road on Saturday 1^st April for what will be their final game of the season.

Stroud have a tough end to the season because they also host Widden Old Boys, who are 11 points off the top having played a game fewer, under the lights on Friday 24^th February.

As Steve Smith said, it’s going to be a big end to the season.