Sheppey Rugby Club are out for revenge as they begin the second half of their Kent 1 campaign.

The Islanders lost just two league matches in their opening 11 games and the first of those – back in September – was against this weekend’s visitors Old Williamsonians.

He said: “We will be looking for a bit of revenge. We haven’t had a loss at home all season and that’s something we want to keep going. We need to ensure we are focused and play to the new game plan.”

Dengate hopes his team’s more expansive style, adopted for the second part of the campaign, will bring the tries they need. They trail the leading clubs in fifth place – eight points off the top – as they seek promotion to London 3 South East.

Dengate said: “What we have to do is push for tries and bonus-point wins. Those bonus points are going to be fundamental to our success.

“We scored four tries in poor conditions on Saturday (in a 27-7 Junior Vase win over Southampton) and that should give the boys confidence. We are playing a bit of catch-up now but it will be a test of character.”

Sheppey have lost Dave Marsden for a couple of months due to work commitments but 2nd XV captain David Rumbold, who stepped up to the 1sts last weekend, is giving Dengate something to think about.

Dengate said: “He came in at prop and didn’t look out of place. It is good to see him pushing himself. We need those kinds of characters to make the step up.”