Holders Gravesend retained the Kent Cup with a thrilling 34-32 success over Tonbridge Juddians at Canterbury RFC on Sunday.

In a highly-entertaining game between two of this season's most successful county sides, Gravesend snatched victory through a late try from three-quarter Adam Bishop.

Juddians, runaway winners of London 1 South, led 25-16 at the break thanks to tries from Richard Nauer, Shaun Cooper and Toby Martin, with Ryan Redman adding two penalties and two conversions. Gs replied through a Sox Stevens try, converted by Dave Dorton who also kicked three penalties.

Although they had to play into the wind in the second half, Gravesend's pack rose to the challenge to set up tries for Bishop and Ziggy Stevens, with Dorton adding two more penalties and a conversion.

Fly-half Cooper grabbed his second try for Judds, converted by Redman, but the determined Gravesend side, who finished a creditable sixth in their first season in National 3 South, clung on to the county cup for another 12 months.