CIRENCESTER'S director of rugby Andy Deacon feels his side are about to see an upswing in their fortunes.

Deacon played the full 80 minutes in the Red & Blacks' two recent well-contested defeats to Wells and Chosen Hill Former Pupils last Saturday, and though disappointed to lose he saw at close quarters some noticeable improvement in a team which lies 11th in the 14-strong Western Counties North.

"We are at last getting some consistency in our selection and having a more settled side week in and week out is beginning to reap rewards," he said.

"We have now played Chosen Hill twice and Iā€™m convinced they are the best side in the division ā€“ better than Chew Valley who are above them in the table.

"It was disappointing to get nothing out of the game having worked so hard and played so well.

"We could have nicked it at the end because we were five points behind and pressing hard when they hit us on the counter. But good sides take their chances, which we are not doing at the moment."

Deacon has recently been able to blood new signing Dan Haplin from Newport Saracens and promote teenage scrum half James Firth from the Colts.

"Dan has been with us for a couple of months having moved to the area to teach in Swindon," said Deacs. "He is a tidy little player at full back or wing.

"James is 17 but looks younger. He's not the most robust and needs to do some growing but he played very well on Saturday.

"I picked myself because we have a few injuries. It was a case of needs must. But I really enjoy it in the second row.

"Mind you, there was a lot of ageism out there on the field, I thought."

Deacon sees the run of fixtures up to Christmas as crucial.

"We have three big games now (Whitehall, Yatton and Coney Hill)," he said. "I want two wins from those three matches which will help towards our target of eight to 10 wins this season.

"We have some of our big players coming back shortly. James Fisher has now had an op to reset his finger, while Mike Wrona has finished his rehab after a double leg break and will soon be back training with us."

Deacon is also delighted his old mate and former Gloucester star Nick Wood has taken a coaching post at neighbouring Stow.

"Nick is a good friend of mine and a good friend of this club," he said.

"He will be a very good signing for Stow and as long as all the players buy into it he will find it stimulating.

"But community rugby is not an easy gig and you have to keep going despite a lot of knock backs."