BASINGSTOKE director of rugby Jim Dixon feels their topsy-turvy South West One season is down to one crucial factor.

"The reason we're in this position is because of injuries. It's been horrendous," he said.

"As a coach, you hope to keep your senior players fit and playing for a lot longer than I've had them for, but it wasn't to be this season.

"Luck certainly deserted us in terms of injuries. We haven't been able to field a consistent side. That's why we did so well to finish fourth last season. We had consistency."

Injuries in the 2006-07 campaign stretched 'Stoke's resources to the limit, especially when going up against the cash-backed clubs, Mounts Bay and Cleve.

Vital first-team players Russell Northcote (neck and cruciate knee damage), Ross Stirling (concussion), Myles Rutherford (shoulder), Shane Murphy (ankle), Andrew Rowlands (ribs and ankle), Steve Pywell (broken ankle), have all being sidelined for lengthy periods to add to selection problems.

Dixon himself missed many matches due to knee trouble.

Additionally, in the summer, the side lost Carl Marshall, Matt Lucas, Simon Buckland, and, most recently, Simon Appleby, while Simon Humberstone did not return to take up the fly-half berth until late October.

It has all added up to a transitional season for 'Stoke, who after meeting Bracknell on Saturday, finish their season with matches at Weston-super-Mare (March 31) and at home to St Ives (April 14).

Dixon said on the club's closing fixtures: "I've made it clear to the guys that they are not only playing for themselves, but also the club, because the standard of the club is measured by the first team.

"That's why we must keep the club where it deserves to be, and consolidate next year."

He added: "It's been a very long, hard season, but young players like Jamie Folan, Matt Oliver, Gareth Patterson, Mike Goodall, Simon Humberstone, Karl Buttle and Tom Northcote, who have all played their part, will have learned a lot.

"That's the positive to take from this season. People forget what a young side we have and the resources we work hard to compete against."