Coach Rob Dengate now says it’s up to Sheppey to help rugby rivals Sittingbourne survive in Kent 1.

Dengate caused a stir ahead of last weekend’s Swale derby when he said he wanted to send Bourne down to Kent 2. But he understands the difficulties Sheppey’s neighbours are experiencing and wants them to stay in the division.

Sheppey climbed to third place with a 41-5 victory over a Sittingbourne side who remain in the bottom two and Dengate said: “Full credit to Sittingbourne. They never gave up and if they keep playing like that, I’m sure they will stay in the league.

“We gave them our full respect and we’ll do all we can to beat the other teams around them and help them stay up.

“Matt Hobson (coach) is doing a great job there with limited playing resources after all the injuries they’ve had.”

Sheppey have signed Jordan King, son of former coach Pete, ahead of their trip to Southwark this weekend.

The youngster lives on the Island but had been playing for Thanet, where his dad now coaches.