SOUTH Wilts were celebrating on Saturday after being crowned league champions for the first time since 1990 when victory at Portsmouth finally put them out of reach of their other challengers, writes Mike Turner.

After last week's defeat at home to closest rivals Havant which had thrown the title race wide open again, captain Rob Wade was relieved to have wrapped up the Southern League crown with a match to go.

"We've played some great cricket," said a delighted Wade, whose side have led the challenge for honours for the past couple of months.

"We've attacked all season and we deserve to win the league."

The Salisbury side's success is even more remarkable considering they looked to have a weakened side from the one that finished a disappointing sixth a year earlier.

They suffered back-to-back defeats in their opening two matches, but then won ten out of their next 11 - drawing only with Hampshire Academy before slipping up against Havant.

"I never imagined at the beginning of the season that we would be in this position," said Wade.

"My aim was to try and compete for a top four spot but to win it and to win it, let's face it, quite comfortably is a great feeling."

Wade was quick to praise the efforts of his hard-working team mates - the vast majority of whom have risen through the ranks to the first team via the club's impressive Colts section.

"Jason Laney and Alan Kruger have had super seasons and there's no doubt that their form was a major factor. But all the other players have contributed from our three youngsters Eddie Abel, James Hayward and Lysander Wolf to the experienced campaigners like Jamie Glasson and Adie Holewell."

The captain added: "I don't want to single people out because there have been so many contributors and every time we've been in trouble, someone has come up with the goods.

"It's a fantastic achievement for our club and is a great testament that only three of the players who played against Portsmouth did not come through the Colts set-up."

South Wilts will officially be crowned champions at Saturday's home game with BAT Sports which gets underway at 1pm.