Dover lost for the third consecutive game in London 1 South at Charlton Park on Saturday but there was no need for coach Graham Tonks to criticise his players after the 30-25 defeat.

Tonks had nothing but praise for his patched-up squad after they almost pulled off a stunning comeback against a side three places above them.

Charlton Park led 30-11 but Tonks’ side, missing six regulars through injury, illness and work commitments, scored 14 unanswered points before the clock finally beat them.

Tonks said it had been an extraordinary effort given the side he fielded.

He said: “You could say that my preparations went belly up late in the week with so many players dropping out but it finished on a real high.

“It was a gutsy effort from the lads – I say lads because some who played were lads a ‘few’ years ago.”

That was a tongue-in-cheek remark as Tonks’ side included his assistant coach Chris Dengate while Lee Ambrose also came out of retirement to play his first game of the season.

Ambrose celebrated his call-up by scoring Dover’s third try.

Tonks said Dengate, who has one international cap for Spain, and Ambrose didn’t let anyone down.

He said: “They both did well – so did the rest of the stand in players. To get a bonus point was a tremendous effort.”

Sharks remain 11th ahead of their clash against 13th-placed Hove at Crabble on Saturday (3pm).