SOMERSET men have won hockey’s National County Championship title for the very first time.

Over previous years Somerset earned consecutive promotions from the C Division, and made the finals of the A Division in 2017.

Following trial sessions at Taunton Vale SC, this year’s Somerset side fought it out in the top tier A Division.

Somerset started out with four games against Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Sussex and Kent at Cannock HC.

After day one, Somerset had won one and lost one, meaning they had work to do on day two.

But they defeated Staffs and Sussex for a place at finals weekend after finishing runners-up to Warwickshire, who had beaten Somerset 6-5.

The A division finals were held at Nottingham Hockey Centre, with a semi-final and final format.

There they faced a Lincolnshire side brimming with talent.

Somerset dominated possession and took a two-goal advantage through James Carson, but late on in the second half Lincolnshire rallied to level.

But Somerset won a penalty corner late in the game and Tom Carson slotted home the winner, putting Somerset into their first ever A Division final, and a rematch with Warwickshire.

A cagey first half ended 1-1, Liam Hedaux scoring for Somerset, but they then fell behind to a breakaway goal, with 20 minutes left.

But talisman James Carson returned from a short time in A&E to beautifully chip the keeper, making it 2-2.

The momentum was with Somerset, and having edged ahead, Ross Hardwick sealed it late on, 4-2.

Somerset men have worked tirelessly for years to compete in A Division, with thanks going to Steven Rybaruk among others for the county onto this level.

Somerset squad: Sam Whitefield (Bath Buccaneers); Liam Hedaux, Jacob Cannock (Cardiff & Met); Andy Jackson (Clifton Robinsons HC); Tom Harris, Ben Roberts (Firebrands HC); Matt Richards (HCV Leauven, captain); Tom Whitworth, David Gibson (ISCA); Ian Haley (Ipswich HC); Tom Carson, James Carson, Ed Carson, Stuart Loughrey (Reading HC); Ross Hardwick, Elliot Foweraker (coach), Liam Pigden, Martin Johnson, Dom Oliver (Taunton Vale HC); Patrick Free (University of Birmingham); George Carson (University of Exeter); Ben Rogers (Westbury HC); Dave Martin, James Bell, Hannah Bell (manager) (Yeovil & Sherborne).