Right from the start of pre-season, the coaching staff of Matty Shields and Max Connon laid out what was expected of players, in order to achieve the target for this year. That was win the league and secure promotion, and Carlisle finished off the season in style, with a try fest against bottom side De La Salle, to entertain the biggest crowd at Warwick road this year, and achieve their goal.

It didn't all go to plan though, and the Warwick road crowd were stunned as a scrum to Della, saw the ball worked left and a slick one two combination saw their flyhalf breeze through the Carlisle defence for a converted try after only two minutes.

Order to the universe was restored 7 minutes later as Carlisle pushed up into Della's 22 and Grant Connon found some space to jink his way past the visitors cover defence to go under the posts for the equalising score.

The Della defence was kept busy as Carlisle pushed on to secure their next score, but it wasn't until the 20minute mark, that Carlisle got that try as a Della back got scragged in the visitors dead ball area by Grant Connon, and centre Chris Auld just beat scrum half James Telford to touch down the dislodged ball before it rolled out.

Carlisle suffered some early injuries with first Tom Graham and then Henry Wainwright having to be replaced, the latter for a game ending injury. This didn't disrupt things too much though, and after Della were reduced to 14 men, the floodgates opened with winger Greg Baines scoring and fullback Max Connon grabbing a hat trick of tries to see out the half 38-7 up.

Carlisle continued in this vein in the second half, and despite some heroic defence by Della, Carlisle were simply too good for the Salford side, running in a further 6 tries in the second half, with scrum half James Telford bagging the last four, to end the game 80-7 up and as League Champions for 2018-19, to the delight of the home support.

There have been a few wobbles along the way, and not beating Northwich at all, and the home loss to Blackburn were particular moments when things could have gone pear shaped. The mark of any successful side is to learn from those defeats, and Carlisle did that, and grew in confidence and self belief as a side to achieve something that will remain long in the memory, irrespective of what happens next.

Reflect on where we were as a club in December 2015, with some very dark days and relegation at the end of that season. Contrast with the side that won yesterday with over 80% of the players having played at youth level at the club, shows the value of investing in and encouraging youth rugby to provide the backbone of a senior side that can succeed.

There are far too many people to thank individually who have contributed to the club, through volunteering, coaching, playing and supporting in many different ways,over many years, at all levels of the club, to allow the seniors to achieve such an historic moment for the club. All your contributions are much appreciated and valued, and we hope you continue to help the club go forward.

National league rugby now awaits us in North Premiership next season. Let's hope a sleeping giant has been awakened.

Onwards and upwards.