Sheppey head coach Frank Davis has called on his team to up the tempo after their Kent 1 woes hit another low on Saturday.

The Islanders are still searching for their first league points of the season after the 15-12 defeat to fellow strugglers Erith.

Sheppey are at home to HSBC on Saturday and Davis admits his patience is wearing thin.

He said: "The players have to do some soul searching. We’ve been building for four or five weeks and have been outstanding but they let themselves down on Saturday.

"They did not play to the structure we had put together and I can’t physically do it for them. They have to take responsibility somewhere along the line.

"Erith dictated the pace. If you put both squads together I would select the Sheppey players every time but you can’t coach players commitment, desire and passion and they have to step up to the plate.

"I want the players to play with tempo and passion and if we do that then the players have what it takes. They have to prove me wrong because there is only so long the faith in them can stay."

Erith had also failed to record a league victory heading into Saturday’s game but they held a 15-0 lead going into the latter stages of the game.

Full-back Dave Marsden scored between the posts and Brad Box kicked the extras. Box then scored the second try but time ran out with three points separating the sides.