DIRECTOR of rugby Budge Pountney claimed Bournemouth were taught a “harsh lesson” as they squandered a priceless man advantage during a 34-15 home defeat to Clifton.

In a contest where tempers flared throughout, referee Chris Ridley had his hands full and brandished two red cards with four others sent to the sin bin.

“We were all frustrated and disappointed,” Pountney told the Daily Echo.

“Last week, we did really well to win but we just got caught up in a scrap and Clifton are an exper-ienced side. It was a real shame.”

Clifton lock Joe Quinn was yellow-carded by Ridley but his alleged reaction to the decision warranted a dismissal from the official with just 12 minutes on the clock.

This gave Lions a golden opportunity to capitalise against 14 men and they took their chance when fly-half George Drake executed a perfect chip through for himself to gather and offload for Russell Westcott to touch down his second try of the afternoon.

George Karayiannis levelled matters for the visitors before the break before Bournemouth became victims of their own demise once more.

In the opening minute of the second-half, Rob Fuller was given his marching orders after he got caught up in a physical altercation with Clifton’s Ellis Genge.

The visitors then put themselves in the driving seat as Jordan Kelly and full-back Ben Foley ran in tries to put the game beyond Lions’ reach.

A penalty try sealed the visitors’ win and left Bournemouth 15 points adrift from safety in National Two South with just seven games to play.

Pountney added: “It was a bit of a harsh lesson for everybody. Even when you’re a man up, you have still got to play rugby wisely and sensibly.

“We got caught up in the emotion and tried to fling it about too wide without sucking in any defenders. Then we got caught in a bit of a scrap and it was even again.”

On Fuller’s red card, the former Scotland captain claimed: “I don’t think it cost us because I think it would be very unfair to blame any single individual.

“It was just one of those times where we had to realise what the opposition were going to try and do, and they achieved it, fair play to them.”

Lions: Lynch, Roberts, Stewart, Chislett, Westcott (Sutherland, 58), Drake, Hardcastle (Metters, 45), Terry, Wilford, Spikings, Hennings (Peart, 45), Fuller, Fulljames, Rees, Hart (Bovett, 58). Unused replacement: Khamoian.