AS the dust settled on a historic season, two of Oxford Hawks’ star men reflected on a job well done, writes JAMES ROBERTS.

Defender Jack Biggs and forward Andy Watts struck 23 goals each to top the division’s scoring charts and fire their side to the South League Premier 1 title.

The triumph ensured the club will join a select group of teams with both men’s and ladies’ first XIs in their respective national leagues.

The teammates hail from different sporting backgrounds – in one corner is Biggs, the 23-year-old Oxford Brookes student from Horspath, whose connection with Hawks dates back a decade thanks to dad Neil, who is the first-team manager.

Meanwhile, the experienced Watts, 32, has been director of sport at Magdalen College School for eight years and signed last summer after 15 years at Premier Division side Reading.

They were united in a move Biggs reveals had long been in the pipeline due to his team-mate’s work commitments.

He said: “Wattsy would have come to us before now if we were in the National League, but we got him here by saying ‘why don’t you come and help us get there?’”

Watts agreed the opportunity to help Hawks return to the National League after an 11-year absence proved too tempting to turn down.

“I knew promotion was possible,” he said. “I wanted the challenge to try to help the club get back there.”

A slow start to the season was quickly forgotten when Hawks went on an incredible 15-match winning run between October and March.

But consecutive defeats to London Wayfarers and closest challengers Bromley & Beckenham brought the team crashing down to earth.

Biggs scored twice in a 6-0 win over Winchester as the Banbury Road outfit all but secured the title in the campaign’s penultimate game.

And the quantity surveying student argues his side’s 97 goals over the campaign shows Hawks were not just reliant on their top-scorers.

He said: “You get moments of brilliance which we have had from Wattsy throughout the season – some of his goals have been awesome.

“But it’s more the way we’re playing than the number of goals we’re scoring.

“We’ve had players in the past who have been really good individually but they’re exactly that – individuals.

“What we’ve done really well this year is play as a team.”

The duo headed into the final match of the season at Horsham level on 22 goals and Watts admits the collective was briefly forgotten with individual goalscoring glory on the line.

He said: “There was a little bit of friendly rivalry.

“I scored first and had to leave at half-time to get back for a school fixture and Jack scored in the second half so we levelled it up.

“I’m not that worried about it, it was just nice for Jack that he was also top of the charts.”

Attentions now turn to next season and while Watts is targeting a top-half finish, his younger teammate is keeping his feet on the ground.

Biggs said: “We don’t feel it’s going to be a relegation fight all year, we’re confident in that.

“But obviously we don’t want to get carried away.

“Everyone’s enjoying their well-earned rest and we’ll go again in late July ready for pre-season.”