REDINGENSIANS Rams will play at their highest ever level next season after clinching the National Three South West title.

They held off the challenge of second-placed Exmouth – the only side who could catch them – to record an emphatic victory amid jubilant scenes at their Old Bath Road Ground on Saturday.

It means Mike Tewkesbury’s Rams will win promotion to National Division Two South next season for the first time in their history.

After securing a place amongst the top 72 clubs in the country, Rams skipper Andy Amor beamed: “It was a fantastic win and it’s been a huge achievement for the entire squad and the club.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the guys. This has been achieved through hard work, a great team atmosphere, good morale and by playing for each other.”

The pre-match mood was thick with anticipation as more than 600 supporters packed into Old Bath Road for Rams’ last home fixture of the season.

But it was Exmouth – known as The Cockles – who came out of their shell the quickest and took a 16th minute lead when Jack Fahy went over from a lineout before fly-half George Meadows added the extras.

Yet any fears Rams had of throwing the title away were soon extinguished by a devastating response.

Six minutes later they levelled the scores at 7-7 when a Rams drive was illegally stopped and referee Ian Bibey awarded a penalty try which record point-scorer James Brooks converted.

Even the setback of two yellow cards to Rams lock James Hughes for illegal entry and flanker Azza Hopkins for offside – reducing them to 13 men for four minutes at one point – could knock the hosts out of their stride.

Instead of an Exmouth fightback, Brooks banged over a penalty before Hughes had returned, and then Rams grabbed their second try while still a man short.

Powerful No. 8 Jamie Guttridge was held up on a charge and, from the recycled ball, centre Dave Massey beat three defenders to score under the posts, with Brooks adding the extras for a 17-7 half-time lead.

Scrum-half Books landed a third penalty after the restart when the visitors went offside at a ruck, and a fourth followed when Duffelen was high-tackled to put Rams 23-7 up.

By that stage Exmouth’s spirit was rapidly fading as Rams, with the title in their grasp, added two more converted tries before the final whistle.

The first went to man-of-the match Hopkins, who smashed his way through a series of tackles from his own 10-metre line to touch down under the posts.

That was quickly followed by a sharp interception try from centre Dan Barnes, with Brooks slotting his fifth conversion to round off a historic day for the club.

Brooks admitted afterwards: “We had our eye on the game for a while and we are just so pleased that it went our way and all the hard work paid off.

“The scoreline didn’t really do Exmouth justice, but we worked so hard for it and had to be patient.”

Full back Duffelen added: “Our attitude off the pitch is mirrored on the pitch. It’s not just 15 players every weekend it’s about 30-odd plus the back-room staff. It’s just a brilliant moment.”

The victory sent Rams 14 points clear at the top and they round off their season with an away fixture at Barnstaple this Saturday (3pm ko).

Rams: Duffelen; Poole, Barnes, Massey, Foxley; Flower, Brooks; Steadman, Henderson, Baker; Hughes, Bryson; Amor (c), Hopkins, Guttridge. Reps all used – Weller, Root, Clark.

PREVIEW: RAMS are without record points-scorer James Brooks for their final game at Barnstaple on Saturday (3pm).

Scrum-half Brooks will be replaced by Will Clark alongside 2nds regular Harry Stapleton, with season-long fly-half Luke Flower on the bench.

Skipper Andy Amor (shoulder) is a doubt so student Nick Crandon could start.