Medway dropped to the bottom of the table after an error-strewn 27-12 Regional 1 South East defeat at Shelford.

The defeat was their ninth out of 11 games this season, with two yellow cards ensuring they played a man down for a quarter of the game.

Coach Taff Gwilliam, however, made no excuses.

"[It was] a disappointing display, we cannot hide from that," he said. "Our handling and kicking game was not good enough today and you cannot wins games with such a high error count.

“We are down but not out. We have the ability to get out [of trouble], we just need to show composure.”

Shelford led after just five minutes, scoring a converted try from a short drive, and five minutes later Medway full-back Ben Dance was yellow-carded for tackling a player in the air.

Medway defended well a man short, Shelford scoring a single penalty for the sin-bin period, but the visitors missed two penalties of their own to trail 13-0 at the break.

The penalty woes continued in the second half, another Medway kick sailing wide, but a good carry from Olly Newton saw quick ball moved wide for Alfie Orris to go over.

Shelford restored their 15-point lead when a poor pass from a breakdown saw Medway defending on their own line. Shelford won the ball and some good phase play saw them crash over.

To make matters worse Henry Kenny was then sent to the sin-bin to reduce the away side to 14 men once again.

Any chance of salvaging something disappeared when an error in a lineout gifted possession to Shelford in their own half, and their left-winger scampered away to make it 27-5.

Medway continued to battle away and a well-worked lineout saw Maik Timmerman crash over, converted by Max Bullock.

On Saturday Medway host mid-table CS Stags 1863.