OMBERSLEY Cricket Club are determined to enjoy a longer stay in the Birmingham and District Premier League after clinching promotion.

The village side finished 32 points clear of second-placed Brockhampton at the top of Crusader Worcestershire League Division One.

Joph Young's side, inspired by former Worcestershire all-rounder Duncan Catterall among others, showed great consistency throughout.

They won 13 matches, including a crunch clash with then-title rivals Kington late in the season, and lost just two of their 22 league fixtures.

With Birmingham League Division Three looming, Ombersley will want to stick around this time after spending just a season at the higher level in 2001. Their promotion represents a major success for the club after rebuilding an ageing squad in recent years to give a more youthful look.

The long-serving Young, in his second season as captain, said: "We maybe had five or six players who were in our first team for the best part of 10 to 15 years the last time we were in the Birmingham League.

"We then had to bring the youth through which has taken us a few years but we've finally done it.

"We were geared up to win the league last season but fell short so there was quite a bit of pressure to get the results this season. It's been a very solid campaign.

"The players, to a man, have put in the performances. I said at the start of the season we'd have to play consistently good cricket through the summer as the other teams are getting better. That's what we've produced.

"We are not worried about going into the Birmingham League and back ourselves to put in good performances against anyone. We don't want to go up and come straight back down again. The players are good enough to play at that level."

Catterall and South African import Calvin Flowers have both blasted nearly 1,000 runs and taken plenty of wickets.

Phil Burdon, Joey Robinson and the D'Oliveira's -- Dominic and Marcus -- all chipped in, while experienced off-spinner Neil Slade bagged 42 wickets.

Young added: "Our chairman Richard Wood has put massive amounts of time into the club. Along with the rest of the committee, he's done a great job assisting the first team as much as possible to get it right.

"As a captain, I've been able to concentrate on getting the best players out on the pitch."

After a well-deserved break, Young will turn his attention to bidding for another promotion with Worcester Wanderers in the rugby world.