NORTH Midlands ended their Bill Beaumont County Championship Two South campaign with a 38-20 defeat by Somerset at Dudley Kingswinford today.

Both teams took a bonus point from the match but it was not quite enough to take the visitors through to next week’s final at Twickenham as Hampshire also secured a bonus-point win over Warwickshire.

Despite heavy rain before the match which made conditions underfoot greasy both sides contributed to another entertaining contest in tricky conditions.

North Mids were always behind, trailing 19-5 at half-time with Worcester wing Cael Hodgson scoring the first of his brace of tries.

Hodgson scored again in the second half with Bromsgrove hooker Gino Belmonte also crossing and Kidderminster Carolians centre George Morgan securing the try bonus point when he went over late on.

The bonus point proved significant as it enabled North Mids to overtake Warwickshire who finished bottom of the group.

Hampshire will now meet Leicestershire in the final.