ALAN Manning became the first Bournemouth forward to drop a goal in league rugby as Lions continued their epic start to the National Three South West season.

Captain Manning rounded off the scoring to complete an emphatic 56-19 win at Newton Abbott – preserving Lions’ unbeaten start to the campaign.

Karim Lynch (2), Sam Hardcastle, Anthony Dunkerley (2), Robbie Searle (2) and Manning all touched down as David Dunn’s league leaders stretched their 100 per cent record to seven games in the league.

Searle added five conversions and one penalty as Lions pulled away after going into the half-time break 27-19 in front.

Manning told the Echo: “It shouldn’t ever happen and I got a bit of stick for it. It was the last play of the game and Anthony Dunkerley had pretty much run through their entire team from our half.

“I thought he had scored so I was behind play a little bit. But it was held up on the line and the ball was slow to come back so I was jogging to get to the ruck. I saw Sam Hardcastle digging it out and I screamed at him because I was in the pocket.

“He never usually passes to me but he did on this occasion so I thought ‘why not’!

“It was a bit ugly, but it went over! I think Doug Warren (club statistician) was even more pleased than I was because he loves a new record!”

Lions plundered three of their eight tries inside the opening half-an-hour, before the hosts came back strongly.

Manning added: “We had a bit of a scare because it was 20-19 at one point so it was our first real test of the season. They were strong up front and had a good driving maul, but once we had diffused that, our running rugby was just too good.

“We pulled away and our fitness showed once again so we’re just looking forward to the next game already.”

A yellow card for flanker Jack Hennings was the only sour note in Devon, with the former Henley Hawks man sent to the bin for putting his hands in the ruck.

Manning said: “It was nothing major and the referee had had enough of people on the floor getting involved. It was unfortunate because we were near our line and he came in and picked up the ball.”