FROME II 0 WEYMOUTH 78

PAUL Harding watched his Weymouth charges secure the Dorset & Wilts One South title – and then immediately set his sights on Southern Counties South survival.

The Monmouth Avenue club clinched promotion with two games to spare following a 78-0 hammering of Frome Seconds.

Joel Wilson and Will Quick both helped themselves to four tries apiece in Weymouth’s biggest win of the season, while fly-half Nick Sheppard racked up 23 points on a memorable day at Gypsy Lane.

Harding’s troops, who made it a league and cup double having already won the Dorset & Wilts Plate, will now join rivals Dorch-ester in the tier above.

The head coach said: “We need more of a challenge and next season we will definitely get that.

“We had to deal with what was in front of us on Saturday and we did that very professionally.

“As with the last few games, we started at a fast pace and we blew the opposition away. We knew it was going to be a big score after just 10 minutes because we were so dominant.

“We got the job done and that’s what we wanted to do.

“I said to the lads at half-time ‘do we want to be playing at this standard next season?’ I told them to remember this game because it’s not what they need.

“They are young and ambitious and the jump next season will come as a hard reality check. It’s going to be a big step up but it’s one the club needs.

“We want to be able to move up and stay up. It’s a big jump but all you can do is give it a try.

“I’m confident though that when we have our best side out, we will be competitive. Time will tell but we are certainly ready for it.”

Harding added: “The focus has been on promotion all season and we have managed to achieve it.

“I’m proud of the boys for keeping their focus and they deserve this success because they have worked really hard for it.

“It’s been a good year for the club. We celebrated 140 years, we’ve won a cup and now we’ve won the league.

“I’d also like to thank everyone who has helped out on the coaching side, like Chris Plummer and Phil Robinson, as it’s been a good effort all-round.”

Harry Charles, Adam Hoxey and Sam Morris also crossed the whitewash at the weekend as Weymouth maintained their 13-point cushion over second-placed Warminster, whom they host in their penultimate fixture this Saturday.