MILLBROOK claimed automatic promotion to the London leagues in style as they won a vital last match to be crowned Hampshire champions.

Brook were made to fight for the title by Fareham Heathens but kept the scoreboard ticking over and stayed organised under pressure.

Their prize for 18 victories from 20 games – putting them just one point ahead of secondplaced Bognor who beat Chineham 59-3 - was London 3 South-West rugby at Five Acres in September.

Brook had been making a steady and impressive improvement in Hampshire 1 over the last seven seasons – winning 73 per cent of their games, never finishing worse than fourth and claiming third and second in the two previous campaigns.

‘Massive day’ Coach Gavin Evans said: “I’m really happy.

It’s a massive day for the club and there were some outstanding performances and we’ve come away with a bonus point win to finish the season off.

“They brought down a squad to spoil our day but we stood up really well.

“It doesn’t stop here and we will start building for next season tomorrow.”

Heathens, who led Hampshire 1 for much of the campaign, ould do nothing to improve their third position but put in the type of gutsy performance that had made them a threat all season.

Brook set about their task from the start, moving the ball wide off a scrum for captain Mike Randell to go over and fly half Rich Colmer convert.

Hampshire Chronicle:

They doubled their score inside a minute as centre Mark Colmer crossed on the opposite side of the field and his brother again added the extras.

Heathens took the game to Brook for quarterof-an hour.

But the home side’s defence withstood all that was thrown at it, including a penalty attempt that hit the upright.

Another boot from Colmer, a penalty for a high tackle, inched Brook to 17-0 half-time lead.

Fareham brought up their first score just after the break when they pushed over in the corner where they had their opponents pinned for a long period.

Brook scrum half Tom Collin was yellow carded for a high tackle but once again the home side turned possession into points after soaking up pressure – a rolling maul took them into the Heathens’ 22 before the ball was moved across field to winger Randell to bring up the bonus point.

The game was put to bed when centre Mike Thomas powered his way over after being fed the ball off a scrum.