Maidenhead had played heroically all day and they carved out a succession of chances in the first half, but Thurrock's defence was heroic, too. As the second half wore on, the prospect of a draw - not good enough for Maidenhead - began to loom. However, an attack inspired by Luke Knowles and Tom Kay, their two most powerful runners, made inroads and amongst scenes of great excitement, Mark Williams, the prop, scored down the right. It was a remarkable effort because Williams had required hospital treatment for a cut head earlier in the day but was determined to play, and his courage won its due reward. Thurrock pressed hard in the agonising closing stages but the coolness of Sam Stefan, the fly-half and captain and Ollie Styles, his half-back partner, kept the line intact. After the final whistle, the proud Stefan - watched by father Gary, the former ice-hockey great who ended his career with Slough Jets - and the rest of the 15-man squad were presented with their trophy by Matt Perry, the England full-back.

Maidenhead gave themselves a mountain to climb by losing to Cobham in their first match by 0-10 and prospects then seemed very bleak. However, they found momentum with a splendid 25-0 win over Westcombe Park, with two tries from Knowles, one from Kay and one each from Elliott Hawkes and Mitchell Batten. Hawkes and the pacey Andrew Foot, the other Maids wing, were among the most dazzling runners in the whole tournament. The fiery Batten marked the end of only his first full season in rugby with some outstanding forward play.

The revival continued with victory over Blackwood, the Welsh team, by 20-0 with two more tries from the charging Knowles and one each from Styles and Ashley Hanks, the popular and powerful prop who was the cornerstone of the Maids' scrummage. The first day was completed by a 20-15 victory over Old Rutlishians, with tries from Styles, Morgan, Batten and Knowles.

No-one dared hope for outright victory when the second day opened and the better teams still to be met. But the truth is that Maidenhead's resolve grew and grew, and they played some outstanding interactive rugby. The outstanding Basingstoke team were put to the sword by 15-0, with Williams and the inevitable Knowles scoring, and there was also a late try from Chris Parrott, who began and ended the movement and showed further evidence of his improvement through the season. Maidenhead had to battle hard to beat KCS Old Boys in the next match in and it was the sheer hard graft of Andrew Jones, who led the pack, which helped them pull through. Jones had his best match of the season as the intensity grew.

That left the drama of the final and the heroic winning score by Williams. All that remained was the ritual dousing in cold water of Paul Morgan and Ed Parrott, the two coaches who efforts over four seasons had led to Maidenhead's minis going out at the top.