BOURNEMOUTH Lions failed to build on a promising start as they fell to their second league defeat of the season, losing 25-11 away to high-flying Coney Hill.

A lively start saw them take a 6-0 lead in the first 15 minutes thanks to two Martin Pope penalties.

And despite conceding a Rory Baker penalty, the Lions maintained a three-point advantage until Martin Knight put the hosts in front for the first time just before the interval.

It gave Coney Hill a deserved 10-6 lead and Knight underlined their dominance with his second try three minutes after the break.

Baker, who had converted both of Knight's tries, gave the home side a commanding 20-6 lead with a penalty on the hour mark.

The Lions' cause wasn't helped by injuries to inside centre Martyn Lever and hooker Andy Spikings.

And the visitors were unable to break the stranglehold as poor line-out play led to Coney Hill's final score of the day.

The ball was not thrown in straight, and from the resulting scrum Coney Hill's Nevers Codlin drove over the line in the 76th minute.

Winger Eddy Edwards outpaced the home defence to score a consolation try for the Lions in the final two minutes after good work from Tim Gray.

Bournemouth Lions: Domenick Davies, Eddy Edwards, Tim Gray, Martyn Lever (Robert Bruce), James Payne, Scott Chislett, Mike Pope, Tim Wareham, Andy Spikings (Rye Buffery), Alan Manning, George Leyland, Tim Seward (Callum Forrest), Michael Richards, Iain Crombie, Tomas Ford.