Musselburgh president Martin Gill admits he is “very proud” of the club’s achievements this year, after they won promotion and were crowned National Division 2 champions on Saturday.

Grant Talac’s Burgh side knew a win was required to secure their promotion to National Division 1, with a bonus-point victory, plus ensuring Howe of Fife did not collect a losing bonus point, enough to give them the title.

And in front of a bumper crowd, they duly delivered, as they dispatched their visitors from Cupar, running out 32-20 winners.

Gill told Courier Sport: “It has been a great weekend, and I’m very proud.

“I’m delighted with everything that the boys have achieved this season.

“We’ll take a couple of weeks to enjoy this and then the board will meet and we’ll discuss next season.” Head coach Grant Talac described it as “mission accomplished” and praised his squad for “rolling their sleeves up”.

He told Courier Sport: “Everyone to a man played really well; however, the forward pack as a collective were immense and dominated their opposite numbers to a man, giving us a brilliant platform to play from, allowing us to get the five points and win the league.

“I was obviously delighted for everyone at the club on Saturday but especially delighted for stalwarts James Doig and Andrew Cook who have played [at Musselburgh] since they were kids, been through the bad times and for them to both win a league championship in the twilight of their rugby careers was brilliant.” And president Gill was keen to pay tribute to the squad for their efforts.

“Alfonso [Horomia] has been a real asset for us this season. People forget because he is such a big, powerful guy, that he’s only young, and his rugby has got better and better as the season has gone on,” he said.

“Will Lander, as well, has been a real rock for us in the forwards. He would run into a brick wall, get up, and do it again.

“Craig Owenson and Declan Slaven have come back to us too, from Heriot’s, and they’ve added higher-league experience, which has been invaluable.” It was not all plain sailing, though, with the visitors keen to cement their own promotion after narrowly missing out to Jed-Forest last year, and they raced into a 12-point lead early on.

And Gill admitted to Courier Sport it was an anxious watch as Burgh fell behind.

He said: “It was a nervy day – especially when we went behind early on – but the boys responded superbly and went on to win, and win well.

“[Howe of Fife] are a good side, they were gracious in defeat and I’m fairly confident they will beat Aberdeenshire in their last game and come up with us.” A pushover try from a penalty near the Howe line got them on the board, and when Declan Slaven barged over from close range, Danny Owenson’s kick was enough to put the East Lothian men ahead for the first time.

Owenson, prodigious with the boot all season, kicked Musselburgh further ahead with a penalty midway through the second half to make it 22-15 and then the all-important bonus point-securing try arrived as a free-flowing team move saw Horomia put flying Rory Watt away in the corner.

Owenson kicked the conversion and a penalty late on, to deny Howe of Fife a losing bonus point, and spark jubilant scenes as the Burgh faithful celebrated taking the championship.

It marked a first title in three decades, much to the delight of the president.

“The last time we won a trophy was in 1985, so it’s a great achievement,” he said.

“We’ve been knocking on the door for a while now, but just a couple of additions to the squad and things have clicked for us.

“We were getting bonus point wins week-on-week and the momentum was really starting to build for us. We took five points from Hamilton at home, and it all built into Saturday.” Burgh will now rub shoulders with the likes of big name clubs Watsonians, Edinburgh Accies and Stewart’s Melville next season.

Gill is relishing the prospect of Musselburgh travelling to some of the most famous venues in Scottish rugby.

“I’m really looking forward to all the Edinburgh ties – going to Inverleith, Raeburn Place and Myreside – those are the games that stand out for me,” he said.