HEAD coach Matt Watts believes the togetherness of his Gosford All Blacks squad was the catalyst for the club’s highest league finish in their 59-year history.

All Blacks, who were founded in 1956, finished third in the BB&O Premier Division – English rugby’s eighth tier.

Gosford racked up ten bonus points, nine for scoring four tries, and finished ahead of fellow Oxfordshire clubs Abingdon, Chipping Norton and Wheatley.

The club has also had to deal with tragedy after 19-year-old Stephen Edwards died in a motorcycle accident in Bermuda on New Year’s Eve.

Watts said: “Stephen’s death pulled us all closer together, they really are a brilliant group.

“It definitely proved how close we are.

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“It is a great achievement (to finish third), there have been some very frustrating times but we have played some unbelievable rugby.”

He continued: “They are a great bunch of guys, the salt of the earth, and great to be with off the field.”

Their achievement is all the more impressive taking into account that Watts and captain Andy Simm are responsible for more than just the playing side.

Watts added: “We do the kit, logistics, selection and make sure everybody is there at the right time.

“Maybe that is why we are so close.”

However, a step up to the next level would require greater framework behind the scenes.

“Rugby is not the most important thing on the list, but it needs to be higher,” said Watts.

“We need a few more to come into the group to get us promoted.

“We should look to get promoted, but our second team are a prime example.

“They won the league and ended up playing against teams that are much better quality and they don’t want to get pasted every week.

“The team almost folded by the end of the season and I don’t want that to happen to us at a higher level.”