Stow-on-the-Wold head to Moseley Oak tomorrow knowing that victory would see them take over at the top of Regional 2 Midlands West.

It’s still very early days in the season, of course, but both teams have won four out of four and both sets of supporters will be expecting their club to be in the title race at the end of the campaign.

Moseley Oak hold a one-point advantage over second-placed Stow after four bonus-point wins and Stow chairman Craig Voisey said: “It’s a big game, it’s exciting that we’re playing a game like this so early in the season.

“We’ve made a great start, the boys have been playing some amazing rugby.”

Indeed they have with victories over Shipston-on-Stour, Kenilworth, Old Halesonians and Ludlow.

This is Stow’s first season back in the Midlands Division after playing in Regional 2 Severn in the South West Division in 2024/25.

They finished sixth, winning 13 and drawing one of their 22 games, after finishing runners-up in Midlands 2 West in 2023/24.

So how does Voisey think the two divisions compare?

“I think the standard of rugby is actually better in the Midlands Division,” he said. “Teams want to play rugby.

“In Gloucester and Bristol it’s a much more forwards-orientated game, although ironically Moseley Oak have got a very strong pack.

“Teams such as Edwardians, Stratford, Shipston, Malvern and Sills like to run with the ball and that suits us.

“I’m a tighthead but I like it. The club like a brand of rugby that’s accessible for everyone, we’re not a forwards-orientated team or a backs-orientated team, every player one to 15 can play with the ball.”

And it’s not just the men’s flagship team, who are captained by back row Jim Wood, who are flying high, because the club’s 2nds have made a very good start to the campaign too.

They are top of Counties 3 Berks Bucks & Oxon North after winning three out of three and Voisey said: “It’s brilliant, both teams want promotion.

“Their success has made the whole playing group tighter, the attitude and energy levels of all the players have been very good.

“If both teams can win their league this season that would be amazing.”

The 2nds host Buckingham 2nds, who have won their two opening games, on Saturday and Voisey, who took over as chairman from Wayne Loxton in the summer, is delighted with the way everything is going.

“The numbers are really good,” he said. “The Colts are flying and the ladies’ team have just played their first league game.”