Top-of-the-table Cirencester produced a standout performance to make it 14 wins in a row in Counties 3 Gloucestershire North on Saturday.

They won 43-37 at third-placed Bredon Star, a result that effectively knocks the home side out of the title race.

With five games to go, they trail the leaders by 11 points, after slipping to their second home defeat of the campaign.

“It was perfect,” said Cirencester head coach Chris Maundrell. “The lead changed hands six or seven times. The game kept swinging. It was really physical.”

In the end it was Jack Thorn’s excellent place-kicking that was decisive as they maintained their four-point advantage over Hucclecote, who also have five games to play.

The two teams meet at Hucclecote on Saturday 28^th March and Cirencester’s supporters will certainly be heartened by their team's display at Bredon ahead of what is likely to be a winner-takes-all game at the end of the month.

“There were some great performances,” Maundrell said. “We were down to 13 men at one stage in the first half but we held in there.

“Bredon’s back row was outstanding but our forwards were really on it.”

As were the backs with full-back Alex Ponting, in particular, catching the eye with a spectacular try.

“It was amazing, he’s such a talent,” continued Maundrell. “It was a good backs move. We moved it quickly and Miller [Bunce] took off before giving it to Alex.

“He then did his dancing, stop-start, and then dummied the full-back. It brought tears to my eyes.”

Bunce scored two tries of his own and Henry Bird also got one as Cirencester took their points scored tally past 500.

Hucclecote maintained the pressure with a 45-14 win at Spartans and Maundrell added: “That game is the biggie. We’ve just got to win our last five games.”

Cirencester’s next league game is at home to Old Cryptians on Saturday 21^st March, while Hucclecote travel to Coney Hill on the same day.

Before that Maundrell’s men host Fairford under the lights on Friday night in a Stroud Combination Senior Cup semi-final, while the 2^nd XV entertain Minchinhampton in the Junior Cup on Saturday.