HAVING worked hard to secure the number two shirt, Jon Bird is determined not to let it go.

The 22-year-old began the season out of favour but now seems to have established himself as the club’s first choice hooker thanks to a series of good performances.

Bird even chipped in with a rare try during the demolition of Dover at Down Grange a couple of weeks ago – and he is pleased with the way things are going.

“I am happy with the way I am playing,” the hooker said. “I was struggling to get into the team at the start of the season because of the competition we have here but it’s much better now.

“I am a bit more confident in myself and hopefully I can have a good season.”

Bird has been in and around the first team squad for several years, but until now he has found it difficult to cement his position in the side. He has been asked to play right across the front row but says he is most happy lining up at hooker, even if that means taking on a bit of extra responsibility, especially when it comes to lineouts.

“I definitely like playing at hooker best,” Bird said. “That is where I have played since I was a youngster and it’s my favourite position.

“There is that bit of extra responsibility but it’s something I enjoy. I get the support I need from the coaches and players. They help me through and if I’m not quite right they pick me up.

“When we are doing the analysis on Tuesdays, my lineout throw percentage is pretty high at the moment. Things will get harder when it gets cold and wet but fingers crossed I can keep going the way I am going. I certainly have a lot of confidence.”

After suffering disappointing defeats against promotion rivals Chichester and East Grinstead in the first month of the season, Basingstoke have hit back in style to keep themselves on the coat-tails of the top two.

It looks like they will have to win most, if not all of their remaining games in order to challenge for promotion – but Bird says there is still plenty of belief that this is possible within the squad.

“Promotion is definitely within our reach,” he added. “As long as we stay focussed, we have got enough in us to get it done. We just have to keep the concentration going and try to pick off good performances, one at a time.

“We believe we can win all of our remaining games. If we do what we have been doing in the last few weeks then we should be able to push on.

“It will be a big challenge but that is what you look for in a season. I think it can be helpful because it’s always good to be chasing someone.

“I believe this is the best squad we have had at the club in my time here. It is a great place to be at the moment.

“It’s really good that the new guys like Adam Davies, Jack Parsons, Gavin Dampies and Karl Buttle have come in and made such an impact. They have fitted in very well and I just hope they all stick around.

“The competition we have in the squad is great. Everyone knows that if they have a bad game, someone is waiting to take the shirt from them.”

Next up for ’Stoke is a home game against Beckenham at Down Grange on Saturday – and Bird is backing the team to pick up another bonus point victory.

“Beckenham are a good side with a strong pack and some good backs so it will be tough to break them down,” he said. “We have managed to beat them in the past though and are full of confidence.

“If we go out and perform as we can then hopefully we can pick up the bonus point win we want.”