Somerset Trojans head coach Jensen Rogers is delighted his team have achieved one of their objectives after securing promotion to the Premier Division.

The west enders regained their top-flight status with two games to spare after their opponents Vasco da Gama forfeited the points from their match at Somerset Cricket Club last Sunday.

Rogers admits achieving the feat under those circumstances was not ideal but said everybody at the club is “ecstatic”.

“We have completed the first part of our goals to get promotion and it’s been a good season,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“It’s been all hands on deck from the coaching staff and the players because we knew that this was the season that we needed to get promoted, and our preparation this season was definitely an execution year.”

With promotion safely in the bag, Trojans have now set their sights on becoming champions.

“It feels good to be promoted but we still have two games left against Southampton Rangers and Robin Hood and hopefully we can achieve our final goal of winning the league,” Rogers said.

Trojans top the standings on goal difference over Hood and have a game in hand over Rangers.

The championship could potentially be decided when the teams square off in the final round of the season at PHC Field on March 22.

“It’s crazy because I have been involved in one of these games before with Somerset Eagles and Rangers coming down to the last game of the season,” Rogers said. “Those are memorable games and I am looking forward to it.

“I am sure the other teams are doing their homework and putting in the work to be ready, so we have to make sure we do our part as well, and I am just looking forward to a good final match.”

It is hard work and team harmony which Rogers attributes for his team’s successful promotion push after spending the past two seasons in the second tier.

“The key to success was togetherness, just being a family and understanding that we must put in the hard work to get our rewards,” he said.

“Obviously Kenny Thompson [director of methodology] came on-board this season and there has been excellent buy-in from the players. They have been more committed and there has been a cohesion in the team and we are reaping our rewards. We have put in the work and are now reaping the fruits of our labour.”

Rogers reckons his team have a bright future ahead of them with a promising crop of young players at his disposal.

“Hopefully the experience gained in the First Division with the younger players spending time down there and perfecting their craft they can show in the Premier Division what they can produce,” he said.

“A lot of them were in the Premier Division two seasons ago when they were 16, 17 and they are coming back at 18 and 19, so hopefully they can produce what they have learnt in the First Division.

“Somerset has always had a good youth programme that feeds the senior team and we just hope that continues.”

Hood clinched the first promotion spot on offer the previous weekend courtesy of a 2-1 win over Shield champions Somerset Eagles.

Only two First Division matches were played last Sunday, with Eagles and St David’s coming away victorious over hosts Wolves and Southampton Rangers.

Eagles beat Wolves 4-2 at Bernard Park thanks to a Nathan Rego brace and additional tallies from Yizharyah Williams and Zico Saltus-Seymour. Wolves, who have completed their league campaign, replied through a brace from Khiari Sharrieff Hayward.

St David’s upstaged Rangers 3-1 at Southampton Oval. Christian King scored twice for the visiting side while Keijon Butterfield also got his name on the scoresheet. Jahnai Bean grabbed a consolation for the home team.