Wetherby 7 Old Grovians 39

Old Grovians started the match seven points clear at the top of SSE Yorkshire Four, knowing a bonus-point win at Wetherby would secure promotion. One and a half hours later, they were celebrating being crowned champions.

This wasn’t their most polished performance of the season but it was a display which gave further evidence of how much this team has grown under the coaching duo of Martin Whitcombe and Mathew Gaffney.

Tries from fly half Adam Weaving and Dominic Copsey, along with a Weaving penalty, saw Grovians lead 15-0 lead at the interval.

Winger Dean Hogg added a third after the interval and the experienced Anthony Cadman crossed for the bonus point win which guaranteed promotion.

Two more tries from winger Ricky Hopkinson and back row forward Harry Cody-Owen rounded off the scoring, with Wetherby grabbing a consolation try as their winger pounced on an errant pass to go fully 80 metres.

The win completed a 100 percent record away from home but the good news didn't stop there, with news filtering through that second-placed Harrogate Pythons had been beaten by Mosborough, confirming Old Grovians will be promoted as champions for the first time in their history – just seven years after the club was formed.

Director of rugby Whitcombe said: “It’s fantastic news for the club. It's not just the fact that we’ve won the championship, it’s the baggage it brings with it. It’s a more appealing club now for players to come to and I think most importantly of all there’s a winning mentality in the team now."

He added: “The work ethos of the players is brilliant – they’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty time and time again. It’s just a tremendous team effort from all of the players.”