CRAIG Burrows hailed his history-making players as Oxfordshire dramatically beat Sussex to clinch a first Twickenham triumph.

The Bill Beaumont County Championship Division 3 final ended in a thrilling 29-29 draw.

But Oxon, who lost in 2003 and 2006, were celebrating their first victory at the home of English rugby by virtue of scoring more tries – five to four.

A converted score from Sussex’s Ed Bowden in the last play of the game levelled the contest and caused confusion as to whether Burrows’s side had won.

But when it was confirmed, Oxon’s bench streamed on to the pitch to celebrate.

Head coach Burrows said: “It felt amazing,

“I’m absolutely elated, talk about rollercoaster of emotions.

“The last five minutes we thought we had the game won, only for them to pinch a score at the end.

“There was a little bit of uncertainty, but we knew on tries we were up.

“The officials wanted to check the regulations just to confirm it and it was just relief when we found out.”

Burrows added: “As a coach, pride is the main emotion.

“We had 22 players who gave their all and the ones that came off left it all on the pitch – that’s what made the difference.”

Oxford Harlequins lock Allan Purchase, in his first year as county captain, had the honour of lifting the shield.

The 27-year-old said: “It’s sensational.

“That moment when you’re walking up those steps, my brother was there screaming at me, it sinks in.

“It’s really important, especially to have done it with guys who have been together for a few years and to put that effort in at the end of a hard season, it’s just brilliant.

“It was an awesome match – I’ve never been happier to draw a game in my life.”

Henley Hawks forward David Hyde, who went over for a try, but was sin-binned with ten minutes remaining, added: “It felt good to score.

“The ref didn’t give it to start with and I thought ‘oh no’, but the touch judge called it for me.”