Spartans take a break from league action this weekend before a three-game pre-Christmas burst that could go a long way to shaping their season.

Of particular significance is likely to be the third of those three games on 15th December when they travel to play second-placed Cheltenham Saracens, who are currently one place and three points beneath Spartans in Gloucestershire Premier.

“It’s going really good,” said chairman John Maiden. “We’ve got it together and we’re knuckling down and playing some rugby. We’ve got a lot of young players who have come through the youth section.”

Ex-Gloucester duo Bobby Fowke and Kevin Dunn were instrumental in developing those youngsters and the club are now reaping the rewards after winning seven of their opening eight league games, the most recent a 43-26 success at home to Whitehall on Saturday.

Former hooker Dunn is now the club’s vice-chairman – his son Brad plays on the wing for Spartans’ 1st XV – while Fowkes, whose son Jordan is a number 8 in the flagship team, is a former director of rugby at the club.

These days Ryan Barnett is the club’s head coach. He’s in his third season in the role and Maiden is a big fan.

“He’s come in and turned the team around,” he said. “He’s brought discipline and he’s got us playing as a team. We like to get the ball out wide and the wings are having good seasons.”

It wasn’t so long ago that Spartans were playing in Gloucestershire Two so these are clearly heady days for a club who were formed way back in 1927.

They played at Twickenham 18 months ago when they reached the final of the National Junior Vase and are clearly on an upward curve, so how far up the league ladder does Maiden think the club can go?

“We’re thinking Western Counties North,” he said. “Looking at it sensibly, that would be a good level for us. If you go higher then there is a lot of travelling.”

So who are the key players who have help propel Spartans to the top of the table?

“Brad Dunn is doing well,” said Maiden, “Then there’s Tom Broady, our scrum-half, and Luke Forsyth, who plays in the second row. Jordan Fowke has done well in the back row as has Luke John at 7.”

The club captain is Phil Sutton although the centre has been sidelined since the start of the season because of a shoulder problem.

He remains very much involved of course and there is certainly a good feeling about the club at the moment.

The club run three age group teams, and former club captain Ben Barnes said: “Stacey Meecham as head of the youth works tirelessly in making sure there are fixtures for all age groups.

“She is also the safeguarding officer and was instrumental in gaining our RFU accreditation, which is a big deal in the rugby world.”

Barnes is still playing for the club’s 2nd XV – he’s a scrum-half – with Maiden adding: “We’ve been putting out two teams most weekends.”

Maiden, meanwhile, is in his second season as chairman. The one-time prop said: “I packed in playing three years ago when I was 52.”

These days he’s happy watching the club, who travel to in-form Berry Hill a week on Saturday before hosting Bristol Saracens seven days later, mount another promotion challenge.