Resurgent Cheltenham North head into November with a perfect playing record after overcoming visitors Hucclecote 49-31 in their most recent game.

That victory made it seven out of seven in Counties 2 Gloucestershire North this season and six of those wins have come with a bonus point.

It leaves them second in the 12-strong division, six points behind Smiths – they would have been a lot closer were it not for a five-point deduction carried over from last season – but they are ahead of Old Patesians and Old Richians, two other clubs who have enjoyed bright starts to the campaign.

North won their opening four games last season before tailing off to finish sixth but there is a belief that they are much better equipped to stay the pace this time around.

“The big difference is that we’ve got a lot more strength in depth,” said club president Nick Townsend.

“Last season, we were struggling to get a team out on some occasions but now we’ve got 30 to 35 players coming to training.

“We’ve recruited quite a few players and we’re able to get a second team out quite regularly.”

And although they’ve yet to play Smiths, Pats or Richians, there has clearly been a big upturn in their fortunes under head coach Dan Thomas.

“We’ve got forwards who can compete,” continued Townsend, a former club captain who is in his first season as president.

“We’re able to regularly put a strong pack out and we’ve still got our Fijians so we’re still entertaining.

“This is a really good division, we haven’t played the sides at the top yet but there are some strong clubs like Coney Hill and Gloucester Old Boys.”

Townsend first became involved with the North at the age of 20 – he’s 66 now – and he added: “There’s a real feel-good factor around the club, you can sense it.

“We’re getting more and more supporters coming to watch us, it’s all good.”

The North have enjoyed some great times over the years of course – they were founded way back in 1905 – but Townsend believes the current period is their best yet.

“I would say so,” he said. “It’s not just on the pitch, it’s everything about the club – the floodlights, the electronic scoreboard, the second team pitch and the new 4G artificial training pitch.”

The new training pitch when it is up and running will benefit everyone at the club and while the men’s flagship team are understandably receiving most of the plaudits, Townsend is keen to stress that the club as a whole are thriving.

“Our women’s team are unbeaten and top of their league and we’re running two under-18 girls’ teams who are flying high,” he said.

The club have also set up a Colts team to feed into the men’s section with Townsend adding: “We must be running 17 or 18 sides in our minis and junior section.”

The club’s next Counties 2 Gloucestershire North fixture is at promoted Bredon Star a week on Saturday and the following week they host long-time rivals Old Patesians.

The Pats are one place and three points below the North, and Townsend said: “That should be a good day, there’s a veterans’ game between the two clubs before the league game.”

The North’s women’s team have won five out of five in Women’s NC 3 South West (North).