Head Coach Richard Hill saluted his Worcester Warriors as they held their nerve in the final with Cornish Pirates to secure promotion back to the Aviva Premiership in his first season in charge.
Hill arrived at Sixways after the club was relegated from the Aviva Premiership, but alongside Phil Davies and his new-look coaching team he has instilled a fresh belief and winning culture at the club.
That confidence came to the fore in the final second leg as the Warriors dug deep and produced one last time this season to secure a 30th win of the league campaign and with it a place back in the English elite.
“At 25-6 I was bit relaxed, and I think some of the players were as well,” he smiled.
“We were well in control of the game but the Pirates, true to form, came back at us every time we played against them. They made it very uncomfortable for us in the last quarter of an hour.
“Good luck to Leeds coming down to this league because it is tough, it's hard and we are relieved to get out of it. It has been a battle every week.
“Cornish Pirates will be one the favourites next year without a doubt because they are a good side. We fell asleep a bit in the second half and there were a few scary moments before we got over the finishing line.
“They all played their part and it was always going to be scary because Pirates had nothing to lose, they came and threw the ball around and had no pressure.
“But it was a superb atmosphere and the players rose to that occasion. This place was rocking, it really was, and an atmosphere makes you look forward to next year.
“Overall we were the best team in the league. It’s not an easy league – and it’s getting stronger each year. It was a great atmosphere tonight, the stadium was vibrating at times, and we will go into next season on a high.”