BOURNEMOUTH sealed the National Three South West title – and promotion to English rugby’s fourth tier – with a comfortable 61-5 victory over Weston-super-Mare this afternoon.

Lions moved into an unassailable lead at the top of the table by hammering the visitors at a cold and damp Chapel Gate.

Cheered on by a vocal home crowd, the champions-in-waiting started slowly and found durable Weston tough to break down.

But having registered their first try in the 25th minute, the Dorset outfit had done enough to collect a winning bonus point by half-time.

Long-serving scrum-half Sam Hardcastle, in his 14th season at the club, fittingly scored a hat-trick as Lions cruised home.

FULL REPORT, REACTION AND PICTURES IN MONDAY’S DAILY ECHO.