Longlevens are looking forward to a day out in the Cotswolds on Saturday.

The Gloucester club are preparing to take on Stow-on-the-Wold and they're hoping to build on a pretty impressive start to the campaign following last season’s promotion.

Four wins and a draw in their opening seven games has lifted them into the top four in the 12-strong Regional 2 Severn and they are averaging almost 40 points a game.

Tighthead prop Josh Stratton has taken over as captain from the long-serving Jed Holman-Jones but after losing their opening game of the season at Thornbury, Longlevens have bounced back well. 

They are the only team to have beaten leaders Chippenham and their most recent outing saw them draw 36-36 at home to third-placed Drybrook.

That 59-35 win over Chippenham back in September was their standout performance of the season so far and it was all the more impressive because at various stages they trailed 28-5 and 35-17.

“We’re still unbeaten at home, we haven’t been beaten at home in the league for five years,” said director of rugby Andy Deacon.

“If we can win our games at home and nick a few away, we’ll finish in a good position.”

Longlevens have already won at Weston-super-Mare and Witney but Deacon is refusing to get carried away.

“When it comes to the rugby, I like to keep it under the radar,” he said. “I like to keep it on a level and maybe surprise a few people.

“I think the aim this season is to finish in the top half, we want to consolidate in this league.”

Longlevens won 17 of their 20 league games last season as they finished second in Counties 1 Western North, a continuation of the upward trajectory they have been on for a number of seasons.

“We haven’t changed too much, we’re just trying to do everything better,” said Deacon.

“The big difference this season is that all the teams are bigger, stronger, faster. 

“The intensity levels are much higher, you have to prepare properly.

“If you make mistake or you’re not quite on it you will get punished.

“The higher up you go, you have to have a good scrum, you have to have a good lineout drive and you have to have a good lineout. If you don’t have a good platform you will struggle.”

Longlevens have already shown they do have a good platform, although Deacon admitted: “The only disappointing game was Gordano away, we didn’t fire a shot that day.”

Eighth-placed Stow are seven points adrift of Longlevens but they have won three of their four games at their Oddington Road ground.

Those wins were against Thornbury, Swindon and Witney after they lost 40-17 to visitors Drybrook on the opening day of the season.

They also lost 64-7 at Chippenham last time out but Deacon has plenty of respect for a club who finished second in Regional 2 Midlands West, ahead of Newent and Cheltenham, last season.

“I like going to Stow,” he said. “They are a good club with good facilities, they’ve got some good guys there.”

Longlevens’ flagship team are obviously grabbing most of the headlines at the moment but Deacon is delighted that all the club’s senior sides are in a good place.

“We’re getting three sides out, the 2nds are doing really well,” he said. “We’re getting 25 to 35 to training.”

Longlevens 2nds host high-flying Cheltenham Saracens in Counties 3 Gloucestershire North on Saturday, looking for their fifth win in eight games.