Kent have won Division 2 South of the Bill Beaumont Cup to book a return to the top flight of English county championship rugby next season.

They followed up their 46-41 win at Devon the previous weekend with a 32-28 victory over Somerset at Aylesford Bulls on Saturday to clinch promotion.

Kent’s five tries helped to build a 32-16 lead before a late Somerset fightback.

Canterbury full-back Martyn Beaumont got the scoring moving for Kent with a penalty and then tries by No.8 Jon West and wing Kieran Leeper (both Westcombe Park), plus a conversion by Beaumont, put Kent 15-6 up at half-time.

Canterbury wing Ricky Mackintosh, Beaumont and Westcombe Park flanker James Lindfield scored further tries in the second half, with Beaumont adding more points with a conversion.