AMERSHAM & Chiltern RFC are in their best form of the season, and they’ll need to be.

On Saturday they take on the leaders of National League 3 South West, Lydney, a side that has lost just one of their 17 matches this season, picking up bonus points in 16 of them and averaging 36 points each time they take the field.

However, Amersham have gone up a notch since losing 38-10 away in the autumn.

On Saturday they won 42-10 against Barnstaple to back up wins over Alchester and Brixham and win three in a row for the first time all year.

Head coach Craig Burgess said: “We’re on a good run and it’s important we build on the last three weeks.

“Winning is a habit and we’ve shown we’re capable of competing and taking this big scalp.

“We can’t leave anything on the field, but we weren’t that impressed with Lydney away.”

Amersham certainly have reason to be confident.

Barnstaple were above them in the table at kick off and had never lost to the Bucks side.

However, five tries smashed that losing record to smithereens as Burgess’ team ran riot.

Burgess himself put Amersham ahead off the tee, and although the visitors responded with the game’s first try their lead was short-lived.

Centre Tom Shiel took Ross Bugden’s reverse flick to cross for the home side, before Bugden himself went over after ghosting through the entire Barnstaple pack.

That made it 15-5 at half time, but Amersham’s grip would only tighten after the turnaround.

A Jack Kenyon penalty increased their lead, before Shiel’s second try of the match ended any hopes of a Barnstaple comeback.

Matt Craggs then went over for the bonus point try and Shiel completed his hat-trick and the scoring just before the final whistle.

Burgess said: “We’re starting to build some momentum now. We’re maturing a bit as a team and learning how to use the conditions.

“The pleasing results were Chippenham and then Barnstaple. We’d always come second against them in previous ties so a few demons were cast away with that result.

“But we were very good. We applied pressure for the whole game, we never let them start dictating play because if they do that they’re a juggernaut.

“And all our tries came from players that have come through our academy, so that proves we’re producing homegrown talent.”