In-form Hucclecote have hit the top of Counties 3 Gloucestershire North after a magnificent seven-try win at home to long-time leaders Cirencester.

Their 43-14 win was their eighth in a row in the league since the turn of the year and with three games to go, they hold a one point advantage over Cirencester, who had won their previous 12 league games.

“It was a massive win,” said Shaun Mckelvey, who was assisting head coach Jack Preece. “It was an 18-man effort, really good.”

Lewis Cameron and Harry Leftwich scored two tries apiece and there was one each for Max Marshall, Leon Smith and Fred Baldwin-Foot. Josh McGill converted four.

The damage was done in the opening 40 minutes with Hucclecote leading 33-7 at half-time.

Mckelvey reckons hooker Baldwin-Foot’s try, which came off a driving maul, was probably the pick of the bunch but despite their emphatic win, Hucclecote are not taking anything for granted over the final three games.

Cirencester also have three to play – away to Coney Hill (Saturday 11th April) and Spartans (18th April) and at home to Gloucester Old Boys (25th April) – while Hucclecote host Gloucester Old Boys (11th April), before travelling to Lydney 2nds (18th April) and then completing their league campaign at home to bottom-of-the-table Drybrook 2nds a week later.

“We’ve got to be on top of our game right to the end,” added Mckelvey, a former first-team regular who is captaining the 2^nd XV this season.

By the time the league reaches its conclusion, the end-of-season North Gloucestershire Combination cup competitions will be up and running.

Hucclecote travel to Gordon League 2nds for a first-round tie in the Martin Slatter Cup on Wednesday 8^th April while the 2nds host Gloucester All Blues in the first round of the Glanville Cup 24 hours later.

“We’ve got 50 blokes available for the Combo Cup,” said Mckelvey. “The number of games isn’t a worry, we’ve got good depth.

"We've been running a 2nd XV throughout the season.”

The first XV are also through to the last eight of the RFU Community Cup Counties 3 & Below Championship and travel to Old Georgians, who are going well in Counties 3 Surrey, on Saturday 2^nd May. The final is at Twickenham.