BOURNEMOUTH claimed a bonus point win on the road at Guildford after a heartbreaking late defeat against Tottonians.

The Lions came away with a 45-37 victory in Surrey, after falling to a 38-34 defeat to the Hampshire side.

Bournemouth began the game in Totton well, storming to a 18-0 lead, playing well into the wind, before going into the break 21-14 to the good.

Director of rugby, Will Croker, told the Daily Echo: “After the break we tightened up slightly, tried to play for field position and Tottonians, rather than kicking the ball back to us, just kept taking the space and coming on to us, meaning we were defending for large periods.

“We ended up down to 14 in the final passage of play where we were leading by three.

“There was a series of plays where we felt that the ball was knocked on at the contact area a couple of times in the build up to it and it wasn't given by the referee.

“Then the final play where the bloke was fumbling it as he scored, Tom Tully completed his hat trick.

“He was fumbling it as he crossed the line and managed to fall on the ball, and the try was given, which was heartbreaking, really.”

Croker said the squad need to learn from this disappointment but that they had taken a lot from the defeat, coming up against a team that was, and remain, unbeaten.

Looking to bounce back from the disappointment, the Lions travelled to struggling Guildford, although Croker said their league position wasn’t representative of what a good team they are.

“They hit us very hard straight after the first whistle,” Croker said.

“We had a bit of a sluggish start and they scored very early.

“We managed to burst away and got our driving maul working incredibly well. There was a first half hat trick for Conrad Carkeet, Grant Hancox’s boot was unerring, and he didn't miss on the day.”

Bournemouth went into the break with a two-point lead, and were able to build on it, but did allow Guildford back into the contest through a string of penalties.

The game became disjointed, with a number of penalties, with Bournemouth picking up two yellow cards in quick succession, reduced to 13 men.

“We defended manfully,” Croker said.

“That was where they managed to draw closer. But unlike last week, we were able to hang on and take the win away from home with a bonus point.”

Bournemouth sit firmly in midtable, after three away games and one home fixture so far this term.

Croker said his side take confidence in that they have scored the third highest number of points in the league so far.

“What we've got to now do is tighten up our defence, and that comes through tightening up our discipline,” he said.

“It's been a bit of a truncated start from a selection perspective, because we've had to use a huge number of players already.

“We've used 31 players in the first four games, and that's difficult to build understandings and relationships and sort of group mentality when up to a third of your team's changing each week.

“But it also goes to show the strength in depth that we're building and developing where we can use that number of players and still be competitive in almost every match.”

Bournemouth have a rest week this week, but return with a home clash against Winchester on October 12.