PROP Ant ’80-minute’ Marris received a standing ovation as he was named Coaches’ Player of the Year at Rams’ presentation evening on Saturday night.

The former Wallingford man, who suffered a horrific injury when rupturing his MCL and PCL in a game against Bury St Edmunds during the National Two South title-winning season of 2018/19, fought back after more than a year out to make two National One substitute appearances the following season before Covid halted the sport for 18 months.

He started in the opening game of the season at Cambridge, but made only two more appearances before Christmas, against Plymouth Albion and up at eventual champions Caldy.

However, he missed only two of the final 16 games of the season as he made himself a cornerstone of the pack, regularly playing the full 80 minutes as the tight-head props split the duties.

Ant grabbed his first try for the club with arguably Rams’ finest effort of the season, a stunning team try at Birmingham Moseley which saw them go the length of the field while retaining position for around a minute and a half. It was named the National One try of the week at the time.

Before presenting the trophy, Director of Rugby, Seb Reynolds, praised Ant’s work ethic and for making himself a real ’80-minute Marris’, while the prop admitted it ‘meant an awful lot’ to be awarded the prize.

Ant’s season is not quite over yet, as he has helped Oxfordshire beat Buckinghamshire 40-25 and Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 21-14 in Division Three of the Bill Beaumont County Championship during the past fortnight.

If Oxon defeat North Midlands this coming Saturday they will book a spot at Twickenham, where they could play Berkshire in the final.

*Congratulations Ant on a fabulous season from everyone at Rams!