A year after being relegated PHC have risen, phoenix-like, from the ashes to claim cricket's First Division championship.

Pitted against landlords Somerset Bridge at White Hill Field on Sunday, the Warwick club wrapped up the title in fine style, defeating Bridge by 34 runs and putting their hosts' Western Counties celebrations on ice to pop a few champagne corks of their own.

It was just a season ago that PHC were condemned to the lower echelons of local cricket, with the sceptics pencilling them in as possible long-term residents in the First Division.

A rained out Western Counties meeting with then champions Southampton further compounded their woes.

But after all the disappointments and heartache, PHC are back and are now hungry for more success - that of an appetising league and Knockout Cup double.

"Now that the league is over, we want to focus on the Knockout Cup," said skipper Cal Waldron.

"We established and set our goals early when we found out that we were going to have a two-league format.

"And that was going for promotion first and then play in next season's Camel Cup competition."

The veteran skipper was also grateful for some good fortune during the season.

"Warwick were second and they had their match against Social Club rained out and so everybody ended up getting one point when we had a bye that day," he recalled.

Waldron said it had been a total team effort, though he did concede player/coach Andre Manders led by example with the bat and rescued the team on many occasions.

"I think that it's been an all-round team effort, but without a doubt Doc (Manders) has led in the batting. That is a bit unfortunate, though, because I would have liked for more of us to have been consistent," he added.

"But we've always had someone chip in with the batting and basically everyone has managed to take wickets for us."

In regard to their washed out Western Counties match, Waldron exclaimed: "Since we have received our new strip, we haven't been able to wear it. It's rained everytime!"

Ironically, grey is the colour of their new county cup jerseys.

Looking ahead to next season in the top flight, Waldron said everyone was aware and fully understood that several adjustments and improvements would have to be made in order to survive.

"Everyone is of the same opinion that we will have to improve in every discipline of our game," he said. "Whether it's in the bowling, batting or fielding departments."