By Graham Cox

Kent ended their 96-year wait for County Championship glory with a nail-biting win over Lancashire at Twickenham.

With the scores at 39-37 Greg Smith of Fylde missed a last-gasp conversion that would have tied the match. Instead his kick went wide, ending Lancashire’s hopes in this Bill Beaumont Division 1 Final and sparking the celebrations for Kent.

It wasn’t heading that way at half-time. Lancashire dominated the opening period, scoring five of their seven tries for a 27-10 lead, and had it not been for some narrowly missed conversions - the unfortunate Smith saw three hit the woodwork - the northerners might well haven been out of sight.

However a change of approach - as well as Sam Evans’ kicking - saw Kent hit another gear after the break.

“We kicked too much ball away in the first period, but once we decided to use the real talent in our team, and go through the hands, as they had done, you saw the difference and we started to get a lot of joy,” said Canterbury and Kent captain Jamie Stephens.

“Evans’ contribution has been massive. You need a high percentage goal-kicker, and he’s been spot-on from the tee, not just today, but throughout the whole competition.

“Kent’s a huge rugby county, and getting the honours puts us on a pedestal with all the other big counties. There’s a lot of talent out there, and let’s hope it inspires younger players to come and do this as well, and create the environment where everyone wants to get to Twickenham every year.”

Lancashire hit their stride early on and tries from front-rows Dan Rylance and Ben Gregory got them under way.

Tom Grimes followed, the wing finishing a great effort from deep, and blind-side Toby Harrison added another after being put through by Fylde colleague Connor Wilkinson’s inside-ball - all in the space of 14 minutes mid-half - to put Lancashire 20-3 ahead. Sam Evans’ early penalty was Kent’s only response.

Just as the Lancastrians threatened to run riot, a far more solid Kent scrum saw Evans set Matt Harrison on a run, the Westcombe Park centre releasing Alfie Orris - who is joining Canterbury from Medway for next season - across in the left corner for a converted try, but it was only a brief interruption to the flow as a neat pass from Lancashire No.8 David Fairbrother sent Wilkinson over, restoring the red rose county’s 17-point advantage into the break.

However, a different Kent emerged for the second period, and within eight minutes of the restart they were back on level terms.

As the backs found pace and cut lines into the Lancashire defence, and the impressive Keita Orelaja went close, Kent won a five-metre scrum, and in a complete reversal, and with Canterbury’s Danny Herriott magnificent at tight-head, dismantled the Lancashire set-piece to be awarded a penalty try.

Tonbridge Juddians’ Bryan Hotston then broke from full-back to send Toby Wallace across, Evans adding the conversion and a penalty moments later for parity.

Lancashire struck back quickly as skipper and loose-head Dan Birchall barrelled over from close-range, but they conceded their second yellow card of the period and, from a tap-penalty, Nick Cook stretched out one-handed to touch down and level the tie once more.

The match remained on a knife-edge at 32-32 for 20 minutes until with three minutes remaining Evans sent Reece Conlon charging into the Lancashire 22, and Orelaja found Rafael Dutta on his outside to score. Evans, who’d already had four successful strikes from five attempts, stepped up and coolly added the all-important conversion.

Lancashire pressed hard as the clocked ticked down, and created the space for right-wing Rhys Henderson to glide over in the final play, but Smith couldn’t convert when it mattered most to leave Kent as champions for the first time since 1927.

Kent: Bryan Hotston (Tonbridge Juddians), Toby Wallace (Westcombe Park), KK Orelaja (Westcombe Park), Matt Harrison (Westcombe Park), Alfie Orris (Canterbury), Sam Evans (Tonbridge Juddians), Tom Williams (Westcombe Park), Luke Boon (Tonbridge Juddians), Ryan Jackson (Bishop's Stortford), Reece Conlon (Tonbridge Juddians), Tom Stradwick (Blackheath), Dave Irvine (Canterbury), Rafael Dutta (Westcombe Park), Harvey Furneaux (Canterbury), Jamie Stephens (Canterbury, captain). Replacements: Alex Witchell (Blackheath), Danny Herriott (Canterbury), Mo Pangacker (Medway), Jesse Liston (Eton Manor), Nick Cook (Westcombe Park), Jake Buckley (Westcombe Park), Lewis Hollidge (Canterbury).