WOW. I can honestly say I have never, in a sporting context, experienced such joyous emotions as I did last Saturday.

First I watched my Reading boys work their socks off to beat visitors Salisbury and then the news finally came through that both High Wycombe and Trowbridge had lost and we were safe from relegation.

Oh the relief. Oh the joy. If we had gone down I, along with a great deal of other people at our club, would have been absolutely mortified.

The lads have played out of their skins over recent weeks and I just want to say to skipper John Cranton and all his squad, on behalf of all of the club, a huge thank you. We’re proud of you.

That also goes to the coaching staff headed up by Paul Gaster who would have gone through even more agonies in the past few months as they sought to put a positive spin on the situation and cajole the very best out of the squad in their hour of need.

Anyway the club was packed with more than 100 past players and supporters last Saturday and boy did we celebrate after the final whistle. The club was still heaving at 9 o’clock when I left.

I would like to thank everyone for their support last Saturday – it made a difference to the players – but please don’t do it to me again.

Anyway, we will still be in SW1 next season and, of course, be joined by our town rivals Reading Abbey so that’s a little bit of additional excitement that will be there for us all to enjoy.

The Rosehill men signed off their Southern Counties North championship-winning campaign with a comfortable defeat of Buckingham.

They’ve been very gracious in their congratulations to us on avoiding the drop and equally, we are extremely pleased they will be in with us next season.

Well done to Redingensians Rams who eased past Chinnor last Saturday to move up to seventh in the National Two South table on points difference.
This Saturday Rams make the long trip to Redruth for their final league match of the season.

Lastly, fingers crossed for London Irish, who must beat Harlequins at Madejski Stadium to take their survival bid to the last day.
As I know after last weekend, anything is possible.