Sheppey battled their way to a crucial 10-3 win in their Kent 1 bottom-of-the-table clash with Askeans on Saturday.

On a heavy pitch, Askeans used their bigger pack to keep the play tight and they forced Sheppey to concede four penalties in the opening 20 minutes, but only one was converted which was to prove costly in a predictably low-scoring game.

And with Dave Dewis having a superb game at loosehead prop, the Sheppey pack gradually restored parity with their opposite numbers, leading to the only try of the game on the half hour.

Sheppey won an attacking five-metre scrum and No.8 Charles Vanaard picked up at the base before powering over the Askeans line. Fly-half Ethan Roach converted for a 7-3 lead at half-time.

The second half developed into a war of attrition in the mud, and for a good 15 minutes Askeans were camped on the Sheppey line. But the young Sheppey team refused to capitulate and then - with with 10 minutes left - full-back Peter King rounded off the scoring with a dropped goal.

Coach Frank Davis added: “When we get it right on the day we can beat anybody in this league. I am expecting our young players to prove that in the second half of the season as some of the older teams begin to tire.”