Sheppey Rugby Club face a crucial promotion fixture on Saturday and are calling on the Island community to come and give them their backing.

They face a Vigo team who, like themselves, are vying for the Kent 1 play-off spot behind runaway leaders Cranbrook.

Sheppey sit third but, with a game in hand over second-placed Beccehamian, they are well positioned to take the runners-up spot.

Head coach Rob Dengate said: “It is a massive game for us and we need the Island public to come out and support the boys. We do get good numbers and the boys could do with the extra help on Saturday.

“It’s going to be a big one. A big crowd will spur the boys on and hopefully it will be detrimental to Vigo.

“There is everything to play for and they will also be up for it. The home crowd and having home advantage could be a deciding factor. We are unbeaten at home in a year and a big crowd would be like having an extra man.”

Sheppey suffered a 25-12 defeat to Beccehamian last time out in Kent 1 but bounced back with a 53-5 win last weekend against Dartford Valley in the Kent Salver.

Dengate’s side are being hampered by injuries, however, with eight men missing last weekend. Jacob Jeffery, Brad Box and Jamie Marzetti have been suffering with hamstring injuries but could be fighting their way back into contention to face Vigo, who won 8-3 the last time the sides met in December.