MATT Garvey has saluted Bath United’s Aviva A League triumph as “awesome’’, but insists it must be the catalyst for a sustained assault on bigger prizes.

United, led by prop Kane Palma-Newport, lifted the title with a 29-20 win over hosts Northampton Wanderers on Monday, a significant demonstration of the strides the squad have made this season.

Flanker Garvey said: “The boys have done fantastically well and it’s a credit to the strength in depth we have at the club.

“There are no many other teams who could compete in the Premiership, the European, LV and A League like we are so far.

“It’s about consistency and the boys in the A League have done that so we’re chuffed to bits for them. Silverware at this point of the season is fantastic, but as a team we’ve ticked that box and let’s move forward.

“In terms of the other competitions, nothing else is won at this time of the year so it’s about us going forward and picking up results and hopefully getting some more silverware at the end of the season.’’

Bath enjoyed a training hit out with Championship neighbours Bristol at their Farleigh House base on Tuesday ahead of league tests with Harlequins (tomorrow (3pm), Northampton and Leicester and Garvey added: “I remember when the fixtures came out, we all looked at them and said ‘that’s going to be a tough period’.

“But we’re a tough side and we’ve proved that so far. We know it’s going to be a good test of where we are as a team and to prove to teams that we’re not third in the league by luck, but by hard graft and a good team ethos.

“We’re in a position they (Quins) want. We don’t want to give that up so it’s going to make for a great game.’’

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