Hucclecote are champions of Counties 3 Gloucestershire North.

They finished one point clear of Cirencester in the 12-team division after winning 62-10 at Drybrook 2nds on Saturday.

It was their 11^th league win in a row since the turn of the year, a run that included the ultimately decisive 43-19 win at home to Cirencester at the end of March.

“I’m really, really pleased,” said head coach Jack Preece, who played at openside on Saturday.

“We’ve got a new, young team, not many of the players have won a league before.”

Hucclecote were strong favourites against bottom-of-the-table Drybrook but Preece continued. “It was a really good game played in a good spirit.

“They wanted to fulfil the fixture and we obviously wanted to win the league on the pitch, so we’re very happy.”

Counties 2 Gloucestershire will be a big step up next season but Preece is ready for the challenge.

“It will be a lot of tougher but we’ll be up for it,” he said. “As long as we can maintain the same attitude, I think we’ll do okay.

“The players deserve it. The training numbers have been really good and the availability has been brilliant this season.

“We’ve been able to select two teams by Sunday or Monday evening most weeks, the 2nds have played 20 games this season.”

And they’ve got another big game at Matson on Friday (6pm) because they are playing Gordon League 3rds in the final of the North Gloucestershire Combination’s Glanville Cup.

“Gordon League 3rds are really strong,” added Preece. “They’ve got some good experienced players as well as some up-and-coming youngsters but it’s a game we’re hoping to win.”

Hucclecote’s flagship team are also through to the North Gloucestershire Combination Martin Slatter Cup final, a match that will take place in August.

The game against Old Cryptians was due to have been played at Widden Old Boys on Saturday but that date clashes with Hucclecote’s RFU Community Cup Counties 3 & Below Championship quarter-final tie at Old Georgians, who have just finished third in London & South East Counties 3 Surrey.

The final of that competition will be played at Twickenham next month and Preece said: “The North Gloucestershire Combination have agreed to postpone the game against Old Cryptians. We’re happy to play them any time in August.

“We asked the players what they wanted to do and they said it was a chance of a lifetime to try to get to Twickenham. It might not come round again.”

North Gloucestershire Combination Cup final dates – Sunday, Elite Cup: Old Centralians v Matson, at Hucclecote (3pm). Semi-final results: Gordon League 28 Matson 59; Old Centralians 31 Chosen Hill 13.

Friday, Glanville Cup: Hucclecote 2nds v Gordon League 3rds, at Matson (6pm). Semi-final results: Hucclecote 2nds 39 Matson 3rds 22; Gloucester Old Boys 2nds 5 Gordon League 3rds 60.