The ultimate stage, the ultimate display - Billericay's dream came true on Saturday as their rugby side won the Tetley's Bitter Vase

All-round efficiency, laced with running enterprise, lifted Billericay's supreme season to a dream pinnacle - as smooth a win as anyone could have wished.

The outstanding Kevin Harman's flawless right boot kicked 14 of their Twickenham points, and John Bailey's twisting body and outstretched hand claimed the try at the end of the first half from which Silhillians never recovered.

This awesome, experienced, unbeaten Billericay side tightened their grip in Saturday's quieter second period, suffocating Silhillians backs and often containing the Midlanders in their own half.

Fortunes on the vast and immaculate pitch were mirrored by the mood off it, where the increasing fervour of Billericay's 1,200-odd fans, bedecked in black and gold, contrasted with the gradual ebb in noise from the maroon-clad Silhillians supporters, who were camped next to them on the same side of the vast stadium.

Harman's fifth-minute penalty, from just to the right of the posts, was as clean and true as all his later scoring.

His Silhillians counterpart at stand-off, Simon Rutter, who somehow ran the London Marathon 20 hours later, soon levelled with a similar kick, but Harman slotted over two more penalties by the 15th minute to put Billericay 9-3 up and underline just how relaxed they appeared.

Rutter missed a presentable penalty, while Billericay lost their heaviest player, 18-stone prop forward Gary Pearman, with damaged knee ligaments just beyond the half-hour.

Yet the Eastern Counties champions were barely ruffled.

Full-back John Stevens coped assuredly with his few serious tests, wingers Mike Coxford and Andy Collings looked potential threats, and the Billericay forwards were typically solid in the scrums and line-outs, as well as a more cohesive, more forceful unit in mid-pitch than the Silhillians pack.

Billericay's rolling mauls often hinted at danger - and a classic example settled this final on the brink of first-half stoppage time.

Billericay's pack gathered momentum some 15 yards out, and Bailey, whose tireless tackling perhaps made him the man of the match, dived to thrust out his arm and touch down inches over the line.

Harman's conversion opened up a16-3 advantage that seemed, and proved, decisive.

However, swift passes from Ed Hawes and Rutter on the left freed Silhillians centre Alun Tapper for a possible try midway through the second half, but referee John Burtenshaw spotted a mystery infringement.

Billericay went just as close when Collings surged deftly down the right and squeezed the ball to Coxford, who was held up a yard short of the line and flipped a pass back.

Unfortunately the wing duo's break was too quick to be supported and the ball went to a Silhillians player.

Yet the opportunity sparked brief but intense Billericay pressure, peaking with Harman kicking the final points of a proud day, a 70th minute penalty from the right.

Next came a flurry of substitutions as each side ensured all their replacements tasted play at the home of English rugby.

Then, finally, we had the last whistle and skipper Paul Dal-y's joyous climb up the steps to collect the biggest prize in Billericay's 39-year history.

Moment of triumph - Billericay fans celebrate their victory

(Right) Agony and ecstasy - Billericay's Gary Pearman is stretchered off

Golden day - Billericay launch another raid

Pictures: MAXINE CLARKE This is just the beginning...

Manager Gary Smith wants Billericay's greatest day to herald their greatest era.

He said: "The whole day went better than anyone could have expected - exactly to our game plan.

"We didn't let Silhillians play, but once we scored the try it was a big relief.

"The support we got was superb and the celebrations at London Welsh afterwards were brilliant. We had a disco, and Aldwinians, who won the NPI Cup at Twickenham later the same day, joined us."

However, Smith added: "There's still room for improvement.

"We believe we can do well in Eastern Counties One next season - and we're still going for the treble, with the Essex President's Shield."

Billericay stayed at a south London hotel from Friday lunchtime, and trained in the Twickenham car park on Saturday morning.

Their always-meticulous preparations clearly paid off as, apart from settling well themselves, they increasingly deprived Silhillians of any meaningful possession.

Skipper Paul Daly said: "The confidence beforehand was quite incredible - I was almost scared! But as it turned out it was justified. The whole team was excellent.

"Silhillians had about 10 minutes of pressure at one stage, but other than that we were on top, although the second half might not have been too exciting for neutrals."

Final countdown

FIVE MINS: Harman penalty, Billericay 3-0 up.

nine mins: Waight penalty, 3-3.

11 MINS: Harman penalty, 6-3.

15 MINS: Harman penalty, 9-3.

19 MINS: Waight misses penalty.

32 MINS: 18-stone Billericay prop Pearman is stretchered off.

34 MINS: Brierley has to replace Silhillians scrum-half Dawes.

40 MINS: Bailey's try and Harman's conversion leave Billericay 16-3 up at half-time.

55 MINS: Injured Silhillians flanker Brown replaced by Durrant.

70 MINS: Harman's penalty closes the scoring at 19-3.

71 MINS: A seven-minute flurry of substitutions starts, with all the remaining replacements used.

BILLERICAY: 15 John Stevens, 14 Mike Coxford, 13 Richard Schofield, 12 Nick Glister, 11 Andy Collings, 10 Kevin Harman, 9 Glenn Smith; 1 Gary Pearman, 2 Paul Daly, 3 Tony Bond, 4 Steve Clow, 5 Richard Holdgate, 6 Martin Green, 7 John Bailey, 8 Jim Hayter.

Replacements (all used): Andy White, Wayne Hallett, Mark Hughes, Adam Hudson, John Wicks, Jeff Brown.

SILHILLIANS: Waight, Liggins, Atkinson, Tapper, Short, Rutter, Dawes; Wiles, Lane, Webb, Hateley, Lazenby, Clutterbuck, Brown, Stanley. Replacements (all used): Durrant, Savage, Mallett, Brierley, Dent, Mair.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.