Sheppey Rugby Club are preparing for a Kent Salver Final after a second-half comeback win at New Ash Green on Saturday.

The Rams trailed their higher-league opponents 19-10 at the break but hit back to win 25-24 in a dramatic finish.

Pete Jones’ side thought the game was over after Billy Spoor’s late penalty from what they assumed was the last play.

Celebrations were premature, however, as it turned out there were still five minutes to negotiate.

New Ash Green - unbeaten in their previous eight games - knocked at the door and had the chance to win it when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts from the actual last play.

But with their first-choice kicker off the pitch, the hosts missed the target.

Max Cornell, Ben Jamieson and Will McCall were the Sheppey try-scorers, with Spoor kicking 10 points.

“It was a real tight game,” said Sheppey coach Jones.

“We started well, went 3-0 up and were playing some good rugby, then we’ve conceded three soft tries.

“We’re 19-10 down at half-time and I said to the players this could be our last 40 minutes of rugby this season.

“It’s time to empty the tank, go out there and play. Trust yourselves, back yourselves and go for it.

“New Ash Green were getting tired - they’d worked hard playing a physical game - and we just clawed our way back into it.

“We got back to 19-17 then threw an intercepted pass which allowed them to run the length of the pitch for a try which, luckily, was in the corner, so they missed the conversion.

“We managed to get within two points again and then we got a penalty in front of the posts which we thought was the last play, but it turned out it wasn’t.

“We went from being delighted to, ‘Oh no, there’s still five minutes to go’. We had to change our mindset because we were all banking on celebrating.

“They eventually got a penalty in front of the posts. Their kicker had gone off injured and the guy stepping up didn’t fancy it. He shanked it and missed by miles. That will haunt him for ever.

“It was a really good contest. Both sides went for it. We showed our resilience and determination and desire to close the game out and win.

“Yes, they missed a penalty, but sometimes a game comes down to a referee’s decision or the way the ball bounces.

“Speaking to their coach, we were saying you want a Semi-Final to be tough. You don’t want the stress but in some ways you do because it makes it that little bit more pleasing when you win.

“It’s a shame there has to be a loser but fortunately we came out on the right side of it.”

Sheppey will face Brockleians or Cliffe in the final at Cranbrook on April 30.