Cirencester were made to work hard through a spirited performance from their hosts before recording their third victory of thie Gloucestershire Division One campaign 8-0 at Old Cryptians.

On an attrociously wet and windy afternoon, the rugby was never going to be pretty, and free flowing back play was at a premium.

Welcoming back second-row Rich Williams and club captain Tim Thompson,the later making his first appearance in two years for the team, the visitors had the advantage of the elements in the first-half.

With this advantage they set up camp around the Cryptians' 22, and when the hosts infringed at a ruck, Adam Seager dutifully slotted the resultant penalty for a three-point lead.

The visitors were soon back on the attack and after a lineout catch and drive on the 22 Ciren mauled their way to the Crypts line only for an infringment leading to a second penalty.

Unfortunately some indicision meant that the opportunity went begging.

Although they were only to get one further penalty opportunity in the half, which was narrowly missed by Seager, the visitors did create a couple of gilt-edged chances only for the final pass to go astray with the line beckoning.

Turning round at the break, the home side were no doubt bouyed by the scoreline being so close, and used the elements to their favour, immediately setting up camp in Cirencester's half.

However, apart from one failed penalty kick,they were unable to sustain real pressure on the visitors' line.

The Ciren lineout was working particularly well in such awfull conditions,thanks to the accuracy of hooker Henry Church's throwing allied to the work of Williams and Matt Wood.

As the home side began to flag, the superior fitness of the visitors shone through.

After some telling breaks into the Cryptians half, backs and forwards combined to create an opportunity on the right flank.

Back-row Wood, forever in support, picked up and drove over the line for the decisive score, extending his record as top try scorer this season in the process.

Cirencester finished the game on the attack,and were unfortunate not to extend the lead when winger Rich Allen looked to have grounded the ball,which went unsighted.

Boasting the meanest defence in the division Cirencester prevented the opposition scoring for the second succesive league game.