ANTHONY Dunkerley has earned a Bournemouth first team recall for their South West One clash at Cleve tomorrow (2.30pm).

The 26-year-old comes in at centre as Lions continue their charge for the title.

Bournemouth coach David Dunn said: “Anthony had a superb game as captain of our 2nd XV in their Twin Counties cup triumph at Trowbridge.

“He’s earned his place on merit.”

Bournemouth pipped Cleve 23-21 at home earlier this season, and Dunn expects another tough battle.

He said: “We haven’t come away from there with a great deal of success in recent times although the games are always close.”

Title favourites Clifton won 31-17 at Sandal to book an EDF Energy Intermediate Cup home semi-final against Sheffield Tigers on March 21.

Dunn said: “Clifton are going to have a significant fixture backlog and they’ll also have one eye on the prospect of a Twickenham final.

“They slipped up at Barnstaple in their last away league game, so it’ll be very difficult for them.

“All we can do is keep playing and keep winning.

“Our destiny is in our own hands and we don’t want to rely on other people.”

Bournemouth: Pope, Payne, Edwards, Chislett, Dunkerley, Ngapaku, Hardcastle, Wareham, Cawley, Manning, Forrest, Seward, Stanton-Ketchley, Crombie, Ford. Subs: Bruce, Burns, Spikings.

  • Swans skipper Robert Elford sits out their South West Two East trip to Reading with an ankle injury.

Prop Ricky Woodard is on the bench and could get his first taste of first team action for Swans, who lost 29-18 at home to the title chasers.

Swans: Grove, Parish, Graves, Cottrell, Rowberry, Smith, Smyth, Woodard, Sheldrake, Andrews, Burgess, Richings, Warren, Tomes, Lewis. Subs: R Woodard, McConkey, D Elford.