Cleveland County had plenty of cause for celebration after clinching the First Division 50 Overs championship with a game to spare.

The Harris Bay club went unbeaten to the title, sealing the deal after handing hosts PHC a 14-run defeat in a close affair at PHC Field in their penultimate contest last Saturday.

They were scheduled to close out their 50 Overs campaign against hosts Somerset Bridge at White Hill Field the following day, but that match was not played due to rain.

Courtney Trott, the Cleveland coach, cited a team effort as the driving force behind the club’s successful and unblemished title push.

“Happy with going undefeated in 50 overs and winning league,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“It has been a team effort all season and all credit goes to the players for their commitment.

“Also a lot of credit goes to the management and coaching staff. Our cricket chairman Domian Rabain and manager Damon Rabain have been a huge help and without their assistance the season does not turn out this way. Also Curtis Jackson who assisted me all season played a huge role in what we achieved this season.

“It has been a good season. The goal was to win everything but came up short in T20, losing the league and knockout to Warwick, but we were still promoted.”

Mackih McGowan, the Cleveland captain, is delighted to see he and his team-mates achieve one of their main objectives for the season.

“It’s been a good year league- wise and one of the main goals was to make sure we got ourselves back in the Premier Division in both leagues, which coach had set out for the team to do,” said McGowan, who has soldiered on with a fractured ankle for most of the season.

“We were able to win the 50 overs league without losing a match and that is a testament in itself in the training that we have done.

“We are looking forward to being back in the Premier Division in both leagues next year.

“We have some youngsters that played in the game against PHC who are looking very promising. It’s just a matter of making sure we get committed players for next season as we go up into Premier Division facing tougher opponents, and staying together as a team with team chemistry and everything.”

With the 50 overs title safely in the bag, Cleveland will now go in search of more silverware when they face PHC for the second time in a week in the First Division 40 Overs Knockout Cup final at venue yet to be confirmed on Saturday.

“We still have the Knockout Cup so we are looking to bring that trophy home as well,” McGowan said.

“Our focus right now is on bringing home another Knockout Cup, taking a little time off and then going off for next season.”