JIM Dixon says he and his players will enjoy their well-earned two-month rest before returning for an intensive pre-season training to make sure they hit the ground running when the new 2006/2007 South-West One season begins.

'Stoke met Maidenhead on Saturday in their final fixture of the current campaign and the 2005/2006 season has seen Dixon's young side make great strides.

It has been a very progressive and encouraging eight months for Dixon, who is in his second year as player-coach. He has seen his team improve as individuals and a collective unit, playing great rugby and challenging at the top for promotion.

But he knows next season's South-West One is going to be very tough, with strong teams coming down from National Three South - possibly Reading and Bracknell to create two cracking local derby matches - and promoted Mounts Bay from South-West Two.

Dixon said: "The league is going to be just as hard next year, maybe even harder, with the national three teams coming down, and Mounts Bay coming up.

"We don't know where the RFU will put Reading or Bracknell yet - they may go to London One - but whoever it is we have to play will be tough opposition with a few years' national rugby experience under their belts.

"They will all have the same ambitions we have - to get back, or to, National Three South, so it's going to be a very strong, competitive league.

"That's why, once we have had six to eight weeks off to rest up, we will start pre-season.

"Some of the boys will concentrate on conditioning, others retaining the hard work and training they have put in, but we all need to be fully ready to go from the very first game, as there will be no room for slip-ups next season.

"It will be a very challenging season but there is no reason to fear anyone or not believe we can win promotion, based on what we have achieved this season and the improvements we have made and will keep on making."

One of the major attributes Dixon believes has helped 'Stoke has been "a fantastic team spirit" and he also praised his players for the "hard effort that cannot be faulted among any of the guys".

He added: "Another pleasing thing is that everyone has been very positive and has tried to do the best they can.

"No one has been content with just getting by. I cannot complain at all.

"We have learned some good lessons this season, in the tough fixtures and also against teams we've beaten in games we've expected to win.

"I will be recruiting in the summer but we are keeping the majority of the side together, so we are in a very stable, good position as a team and club to push on and hopefully achieve our ambitions of national rugby come the 2007-2008 season."

First published: Monday, April 24, 2006