’Stoke battle to end

3:42pm Friday 28th March 2008

JIM Dixon insists that he and his players have not yet given up on avoiding relegation despite Basingstoke's precarious league position.

'Stoke are currently 11th in the London division one table, four points from safety with just three games to go.

Defeat at home to Shelford on Saturday could see them relegated and would at least leave them needing two comprehensive victories to avoid the drop on points difference.

This looks unlikely as they have won just four games all season and lost 15, including 10 of their last 11.

Despite this, Dixon, the club's director of rugby, says that he and his team will give it their all until the final whistle of the final game.

"At the end of the day we are still not relegated," he said. "We are deep in the mire, but not down, so we have got to get results and keep a positive attitude.

"We have a lot of work to do, but if we win all three of our remaining league games, we will have a good chance. There is still a lot to play for."

The match against Shelford comes just eight days before Basingstoke host Havant in the final of the Hampshire Cup but Dixon insists that his side will be thinking only about the league at 3pm on Saturday.

"The players will be completely focused on Shelford this weekend," he said. "We will not think about the Hampshire Cup final until after this weekend's game. We focus week to week."

'Stoke have not played since losing 43-3 at Barnes on March 8, something Dixon believes that the players have benefited from. "The guys enjoyed their break and have come back to training in a positive mood," he said.

"It was good for them to get away from the pressure for a couple of weeks. They have been training really well and are determined to finish the season on a high."

This weekend's match will be far from easy though. Shelford sit third in the league, having won 13 out of their 19 games so far this season.

They lost 33-21 at home to Worthing last time out, but beat Basingstoke 28-16 when the sides met on the first day of the season.

Dixon will be without forwards Nick Cooper and Ross Stirling, but hooker Jamie Folan has been training and could return.

With Dave Jones and Dan Argent out for the rest of the season following operations, Jules Alfrey will continue to deputise at fly-half.

"We are expecting a very tough game," Dixon said. "We played them first up and found out quickly that they have got four very strong ball carriers who are very dangerous with the ball in hand.

"We will have to work hard to tackle them right through the game because they are hard to put down once they get going.

"We will need to be strong at set pieces and put pressure on them to make sure they do not get quick ball.

"I am looking forward to the match and hope we can provide them with a real challenge. We will have a good side out and will give it a good go."

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