Timing is everything in sport and Painswick Rugby Club have certainly picked an opportune time to rediscover their winning form.

Saturday’s 27-22 win over Ledbury 2nds was their third in a row in Counties 4 Gloucestershire North, following victories at Greyhound (41-34) and at home to Longlevens 2nds (24-19).

It’s taken them to second place in the 10-strong division – they are behind Cheltenham 2nds on points difference – and they’ve already won as many league games this season as they managed in the whole of the last campaign in the old Gloucestershire Two North.

And what makes their early-season form all the better is that the club are celebrating their 150^th anniversary.

“We were formed in 1872, we’re the oldest village rugby club in the country,” said club president Andrew Morgan. “And we’re one of the oldest clubs in Gloucestershire. We were formed the year before Gloucester, we call ourselves the original Cherry and Whites.”

This season was always going to be special for the club, of course, but under new coach Richard Wren and new captain Neil Churchill, it’s proving just that little bit more special.

“It’s very exciting at the moment,” said Morgan, a fly-half for the club back in the day. “The playing numbers have been quite healthy and it’s nice to get off to a good start. There’s a good buzz about the club, we’re in a happy place.”

The club will be marking their 150^th anniversary towards the end of the season and Morgan said the plan was to play three games one after the other on Saturday 22^nd April involving a Colts team, a veterans’ team and the 1^st XV.

The details have yet to be confirmed but the opposition for all three games is expected to be provided by the Stroud and District Combination.

By the end of April this season’s league programme will have long been completed, of course, so what are Morgan’s hopes for the campaign?

“Just to keep having fun,” he said. “Things are looking positive and we’ve got good numbers in the junior section.

“It’s all about people participating, having fun and enjoying themselves. If people are playing with smiles on their faces, that’s what counts.”

Painswick’s next league game is at Old Cryptians 2nds on Saturday 15^th October.