HEATHCOAT captain Pete Randerson insisted his side had a lot to be proud of despite missing out to Sidmouth on the Premier Division title.

Heathcoat have never finished better than second in the Premier table – 2010 when they were runners up to Exmouth – but it looked like this might be their year.

Between week two and week 17 of the 18-match season, Heathcoat were top for four rounds, in second spot for five and never lower than fourth.

Exeter – six weeks – actually led the table longer than anyone of the front runners, but were undone by their defeat by Heathcoat in round 17. Sidmouth only had three weeks at the top before the final day.

Randerson said the players had exceeded everyone’s expectations and no one could ever say they were not serious challengers.

“Obviously, we are disappointed with the final results considering the position we managed to put ourselves in,” said Randerson.

“After we lost badly to Exmouth in week one, not one person in the county thought we'd challenge for the title. 

“Many people were expecting us to go down so from that we have done ourselves proud.

“We beat Exeter twice beat Sidmouth away so we absolutely deserve to be up there in the table.”

Randerson is already looking ahead to 2019 and another attempt to win the title.

“It does not look like we are going to loose any players for next summer,” said Randerson.

“I have already been approached by a couple of players wanting to make the move to Knightshayes so the future looks bright.”