HEAD coach Will Croker claimed Bournemouth’s Hampshire Cup quarter-final victory over Tottonians showcased the strength in depth at the club.

Lions made a host of changes for the last-eight encounter, resting key names from their regular South West Premier line-up.

But that did not stop the Chapel Gate club surging to a mammoth 58-25 victory over their London One South counterparts.

Bournemouth handed first XV debuts to the likes of Conrad Carkeet, Max Cheater, Harry Davis, Danny Kirkpatrick, Joe O’Hehir, Johnny O’Hehir and Jack Palmer for the cup clash.

Davis and Cheater also recorded their maiden scores for the first team.

Croker told the Daily Echo: “Every week I get phone calls or text messages from guys who are in the seconds or the thirds saying ‘what do I have to do to get up a team?’. It’s one of the hardest parts of my job.

“We were able to look at some people in terms of new guys to us, but also in terms of different positions.

“Johnny and Joe O’Hehir have been very impressive since they joined.

“Joe Gwyther was on the bench. He came on and did a really good job of settling things down and putting us in the right areas in the pitch.

“Harry Davis is a really talented youngster, he has a huge amount of potential. In the forwards, Adam McDonald played very well.”

Lions held an 18-10 half-time advantage before putting on 40 points during the second period to book their place in the last four.

Croker added: “Any team which doesn’t have Sam Hardcastle, Richard Sharp, Jack Hennings, Joe Rees, Scott Chislett, Wyn Roberts, Adam Davies and Freddie Gleadowe playing – there are some big names missing.

“We knew we were putting together different partnerships and different combinations, so it did take us just a little bit of time to gel.

“We built up a fairly nice lead and let them come back into it either side of half-time. But then we re-established our clinical edge and pulled away towards the end.

“It took us a little bit of time but, once we got there, we were able to break them down and progress.”

Bournemouth will host London Two South West outfit Winchester in the semi-finals on Saturday, November 18.

“No matter what sport it is in, everyone loves a cup run,” the head coach said.

“It’s exciting and you want to be involved in it.

“We want to get through, of course. We don’t want to take it so blithely that it doesn’t matter if we get knocked out.

“But at the same time, it does give us a chance to look at some guys who are banging on the door.”

Lions return to South West Premier action on Saturday when they make the trip to third-place Exmouth (2.30pm).