Devonshire Colts boss Keishon Smith has hailed his charges for retaining their top flight status for next season.

Colts finished in eighth position, three points clear of the relegation zone.

It was only last season they were languishing at the foot of the Premier Division table having not won a game and only staying up following a nail-biting penalty shoot-out in a play-off against St.David's.

This term Colts have looked a vastly improved side and Smith has been delighted with the response of his players.

"It's rewarding to stay up, that was our objective and to get it done is a good feeling," said Smith. "When you set out to do a task, and in this case me giving back to the club I played for, it makes you feel as if you have accomplished something.

"Going from last year in not winning a game to this year being in the middle of the pack shows us that we have the team to build on and are willing to learn and listen, and one day hopefully all this pays off with us being champions.

"When you have guys that are willing to learn it makes things a whole lot better."

Colts had some pleasing results this year including 'the double' over Hamilton Parish, taking four out of a possible six points off PHC, and beating both Somerset Eagles and Southampton Rangers.

The Colts supremo admitted his team rode their luck at time but insisted they deserved to be in the Premier Division next season.

"You need luck to be successful but when you continue to put in the work you get your share of luck.

"We created chances this year to put ourselves in a place to win and we took our chances, playing well and scoring builds confidence.

"The confidence level is high now because everyone wrote us off and the addition of the two extra teams was also a different thing to adjust to.

"It's nice to have a young group of guys that are good and are heading in the right direction.

"We don't have expectations for next year, as long as the players are willing to learn and do the correct things, then progress will be made.

"We can't move forward if the players aren't willing to put in the effort and allow themselves to be pushed to the limit."