Rams skipper and man-of the match Tom Vooght paid tribute to his team after the historic victory at Clifton to clinch the National 2 South title.
The 26-year-old back-row dynamo, who began playing mini rugby aged four at the club, admitted his task was made easier by his men taking their share of responsibility.
Vooght claimed: “They are natural leaders. It’s like having 15 captains on the pitch. It’s that and sheer hard work which has got us there in the end.”
A place in top 40 of English rugby was also a perfect 76th birthday present for long-serving president Ian Duncan, in the role for over a quarter of a century.
He recalled how far the club have progressed and pointed out: “In the 1990s we were in Berks, Dorset & Wilts 1 at level 8 and there was talk at the time of us amalgamating with neighbours Shire Hall.”
Initially it was not a straightforward task for nervy Rams against a gritty Clifton side who had the better of the opening exchanges.
But on a quarter-of-an-hour they made a breakthrough when wingman Andy Denham’s swerving run put them in front with Alex Seers, whose kicking was excellent, adding the extras.
It looked even rosier for Rams eight minutes later when prop Sean McDonnell-Roberts battered his way over after a short yardage scrum.
The Bristol side had other ideas and took a 14-12 lead four minutes before the break. They crossed for two touchdowns, the second coming in the absence of Jamie Guttridge, yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on.
Then 14-men Rams, on the stroke of half-time, hit back at the right psychological moment. A try from prolific scorer Ben Henderson and Seers’ superb touchline conversion in swirling conditions gave them a 19-14 interval lead.
Rams pack, urged on by huge travelling support, got to work in the second half and dominated. A pushover dotted down by Guttridge and a five-pointer from replacement Craig Nightingale, after a break by Guttridge, put the visitors well in charge at 31-14.
It had been a busy day for Nightingale, a doctor, who put stitches in a wound of teammate Niall Kidd just before half time.
With five minutes remaining Clifton grabbed a consolation try but Rams winger Jak Rossiter added two late scores to make sure.
He touched down a pin-point cross-kick from Seers, then raced over half the length of the pitch from a move which started in the Rams 22.
Final word from head coach Seb Reynolds: “Today is a really special day. There is a genuine togetherness in the club and an effort to play consistent excellent rugby.”
“I owe a big debt to our previous coach Mike Tewkesbury who did so much to bring the club to the level it is.”
“After I finished as a player I was drifting away from rugby, but Mike got me into coaching. He has been my mentor and I still speak to him several times a week on the phone.”
Rams: T Humberstone; Corrigan, Jones, A Humberstone, Denham; Seers, Illingworth; McDonnell-Roberts, Taylor, C Stapley, Collis, Vooght, Guttridge. Reps: Drew, Baker, Nightingale, Rossiter, Lloyd.