Manager Gordon Brown declared Saturday’s win over Wasps to seal promotion a ‘brilliant day’ for his Old Merchant Taylors’ side.

The 22-0 triumph, coupled with Grasshoppers, failure to secure a bonus point against Finchley, saw OMT snatch second spot and secure a third straight promotion to London Two North West.

Tyson de Souza, one of only two survivors, along with Dan Conway, of all three of OMT’s promotion seasons, won man of the match in a fitting end to the campaign.

OMT knew that they had done all they could at the final whistle, but there was an agonising wait to find out if Grasshoppers had slipped up – and as news filtered through they had, Brown’s men were able to celebrate pipping their rivals by a point.

Brown said: “This was simply a brilliant day and a truly exciting end to the season.

“We knew it was in our hands to score maximum points, but it was then up to whether Finchley would compete against Hoppers.

“This result was proof of just how far we have come as a team – to nil our opponents, just one league position below us, in an away match.

“Our commiserations to Grasshoppers. They are a quality side, but we edged them and other opponents by our constant ability to score tries and achieve bonus points.

“My personal congratulations to captain Tom Kenison, who has constantly led from the front, and to coach Francois Lombard, now completing his second successful season with OMT.”

Securing promotion and second spot means OMTs have now reached their highest level of competition since 1999.

But the season is not quite yet over as they head into an Easter schedule of friendly fixtures.

Brown added: “We are now departing happy and relaxed on our 100-plus year tradition of Easter touring to the West Country. Then, on April 26, OMT Lambs, our second team, will face Harrow seconds in a Merit Table Cup Final, which is going to be yet another great afternoon.”

OMT will also be participating in sevens tournaments, including the Hendon, Middlesex and Summer Social Sevens, throughout the summer.

Visit www.omtrugby.co.uk for more information.

Elsewhere in London One North, Ruislip rounded off their season by thumping Woodford 71-19 to record a fifth place finish in the table.