OUTGOING Recs first team coach Gareth Haggerty saluted his players’ efforts after they finally ended the club’s long wait to be crowned the regional champions.

Haggerty, a former Recs junior who went on to play Super League for Salford and Harlequins, said: "The lads have been great for the last three years that I’ve been coaching them.

“I can’t speak any more highly of them, especially people like John Rees and Jamie Smith.

"It’s been six years of hard work for them to win this trophy and so today is a fitting end.”

It is the fourth trophy Haggerty has won during his time at the club, where he has been assisted by brother, Kurt, the former Widnes player who Recs hope to retain.

Gareth added: “It’s a good end for me as I’m stepping down but also for the lads and the rest of the coaching staff.

“They played well. It wasn’t the best performance but you don’t always put your best performance out there in finals.

"We got the thing that we really wanted so I’m happy.”