It was a historic moment when referee Peter Ashman sounded the final whistle which signalled the realisation of an ambition which until recent times seemed far beyond their reach.

A travelling army of supporters - out-numbering home team fans - roared their delight and players embraced.

And why not? It meant automatic entry into National Three (North) next season to end a decade of achievement that has seen Westoe win their league four times and get to a Twickenham cup final - albeit as gallant losers.

To put this latest triumph into sporting perspective, it was as if South Shields had been promoted into the Football League's second division.

Only Hull, two points adrift on the last Saturday of the season, could have upset the apple cart when they met second-bottom West Park St Helens just a few miles down the road from Beverley.

And although they won 64-12 to wipe out the Shieldsmen's pre-match 38-point scoring advantage, it mattered not a jot.

Now it is the Tykes who must face Midland One runners-up Chester in a play-off for the second promotion spot.

Jubilant captain Gareth Nesbit, who the previous three campaigns had suffered the frustration of his side coming third top, declared: "This is simply an awesome occasion for the club.

"Today was all about winning. Normally I begrudge every point we concede, but if Beverley had scored 50 I wouldn't have cared a damn as long as we scored 51."

He praised the "immeasurable" contribution of coaches Russell Winter, Joe Shaw and Shaun Cassidy and the behind-the-scenes work of club chairman and team manager Duncan Murray.

Nes, who alone had started in every game, said: "The players have given everything and I can't speak too highly of them, but there are other ingredients beyond the touchline without which an accomplishment like this just would not happen."

His fired-up team took control immediately with slick and zealous rugby and for the first quarter Beverley hardly got a touch of the ball.

In that period fly half Ashley Moeke kicked a penalty, hooker Peter Tennet was driven over after lofty lock Matthew Muchall had stolen a five-metre lineout - following a super kick into touch by centre David Haswell - and right winger Willy Moala had yet again demonstrated his value with two tries that took his tally to a remarkable 30.

Both times he was just too nimble and quick, speeding over from the home team's 22, first after clever handling by Haswell and full back Gavin Charlton and then following a break by fellow Kiwi Moeke.

In the 33rd minute the Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Shieldsmen pretty well settled matters when Charlton broke away down the left flank from the halfway line and off-loaded to winger Graeme Haswell who finished the job with a 20 metre spurt - Moeke being on target from far out for the third of his five conversions to make it 29-0 at half time.

The big, brawny men of Beverley came fighting back, marshalled splendidly by fly half Mark Tarasenko who converted a deserved try by centre Jade Gardiner from a well-controlled chip ahead.

And it was rather against the run of play in the 62nd minute when muscular centre James Fitzpatrick received the ball from a scrum just inside his own half and galloped to touch down for the 14th time this campaign, bursting through a last ditch tackle just short of the try line.

Moeke completed his team's scoring ten minutes later when a clever dummy enabled him to dart over under the posts.

Westoe were now totally relaxed and the conceding of late tries by flanker David Worrall and winger Freddie Oakey were hardly likely to tarnish their celebrations.

As Nesbit led his men off the field proudly carrying the champions' trophy they were not only greeted by the uninhibited congratulations of their own followers but by the warm applause of Beverley supporters.

Chairman Murray said: "Just a few seasons ago the prospect of Westoe playing National rugby was almost laughable.

"But today it is a reality thanks to a dedicated squad of players and enlightened coaching.

"It has been an important factor that so many of our players have come through the club's junior ranks creating a camaraderie both on and off the field into which new players have fitted.

"But we are under no illusions, having achieved promotion we are all going to have to work even harder."

* To add to the clubhouse cheer, the Third XV won the Durham County Cup for the fifth time in six years by beating Horden 21-6 at the West Hartlepool TDSOB ground.

Down 6-3 after a hard-fought first half, tries by locks Ian Stephenson and the ever-youthful Steve Frewer gave the Westoe men an ascendancy that was not to be seriously threatened. Fly-half Colin Gillespie kicked three penalties and a conversion.