Sheppey rounded off their their Kent 1 season with a 22-14 defeat at Gillingham Anchorians on Saturday, which meant they finished seventh in the table.

Coach Frank Davis said: "It was a hard-fought game and, because it was our last (league) match, I gave the lads the freedom to run the ball whenever they wanted and we played some good running rugby.

"But, credit to Anchorians, they defended manfully and in the end we were made to pay for three defensive errors which led to three of their four tries."

Sheppey made a good start and took a 7-0 lead through a try by fly-half Bradley Box, which he converted himself.

Anchorians replied with an unconverted try but things looked to be going Sheppey’s way when they scored a second try through Luke Barker, again converted by Box.

But the Gillingham side showed plenty of fight and determination and they recovered to lead 17-14 at half-time.

Sheppey piled on the pressure after the break in a bid to record their ninth win in 10 league games but the Anchorians’ defence held firm and it was the home side who scored the only points of the second half with an uncoverted try.

There was better news for Sheppey on Sunday when they defeated Ashford 28-10 at The Ditch in the semi-finals of the Kent Salver.

Ashford fielded a mixture of 1st and 2nd XV players and found Sheppey too strong despite the fact Davis’s side were feeling the effects of Saturday’s tough encounter.

Sheppey scored four tries through Tom Varker, Chris Bain, Dean Eley and Steve Croall, all of which were converted by Box.

Sheppey’s opponents in the final at Old Elthamians on Sunday, April 25 will be Gillingham Anchorians or Erith.