Sheppey Rugby Club coach Frank Davis drew plenty of encouragement from Saturday’s 18-10 defeat at Gillingham Anchorians.

He said: “I think we have turned the corner with that performance.

“It was one of those games where afterwards all of the players could look each other in the eye and know they had given all they could – and as a coach you can’t ask for any more than that.”

Anchorians were on top early on and went in front through an unconverted try by Adam Davison.

Sheppey, however, began to show their attacking potential before half-time and they levelled the score through an unconverted try by scrum-half John Bricknell.

Anchorians then eased back in front just before the break when captain Richie Collins converted a penalty to make it 8-5.

Anchorians stretched their lead with a penalty before Davison raced over for his second try, converted by Collins, to put the home side 18-5 in front.

Sheppey then rallied in the final 10 minutes and were rewarded when centre Jason Crosskey burst through to score.