Coach Rob Dengate says Sheppey Rugby Club need to win every game in the new year to claim the Kent 1 title.

Dengate’s side dropped to fifth after losing 10-8 at leaders Cranbrook last weekend – only their third defeat this season.

Dengate is confident his side, who return to league action on January 10, are still capable of mounting a title challenge and believes winning the final 10 matches is realistic.

He said: “We didn’t do as well in December as we should have and January’s a big month for us now.

“We’ve got Old Williamsonians, who are level on points with us, in our first league game but we don’t play any of the current top three until March. If we want to win the league, we’ve got to win the last 10 games and that’s realistic.

“The toughest game we have left is Beccehamian away but that isn’t until March.

“Having played everyone, there’s no one we fear. We just have to take tweak our game-plan a little bit so we’re not predictable when we face teams again.

“We’re nicely poised and if we start by winning all our games in January, we’ll be in a good position."