Sheppey Rugby Club coach Peter Olliver says his side can be confident of promotion to the London Leagues – as long as they can maintain their second position for the final weeks of the season.

The Islanders overcame Kent 1 promotion rivals Sittingbourne in Saturday’s derby, a league game which doubled up as a Kent Vase semi-final and had triple significance for both sides.

The win gave second-placed Sheppey an eight-point cushion over third-placed Sittingbourne, with Sheppey having a game in hand to come against Kent 1 whipping-boys Whitstable.

Victory also ensured Sheppey will line up against either last year’s opponents Gillingham Anchorians or Old Gravesendians in the Islanders’ second straight Kent Vase final and also reclaimed the Frank Kelly Memorial Trophy from their local rivals.

Sheppey’s failure to gain a bonus point left them 11 points behind Kent 1 leaders Ashford, who have played a game more than the Islanders, ahead of the visit of HSBC on Saturday.

Olliver (pictured) said: "I don’t think the bonus point makes a difference. It was a good weekend for us because the two teams looking to catch us both lost, Vigo as well as Sittingbourne. Beating Sittingbourne was like a six-pointer in football."

He added: "The most important thing for us is to keep winning and try to consolidate that second place. We need to keep doing what we’re doing. We’d be quite happy cruising through to the end of the season in second.

"We’ve had a look across at Sussex 1 to see who we might possibly be up against if we got into a promotion play-off and you have to say we’re quietly confident if we can get there because most people would consider Kent 1 to be stronger than Sussex 1."

Dean Eley and Dave Marsden (both hamstring) and Dylan Davies (groin) are doubtful for Saturday’s visit of HSBC.