DAVID Dunn admitted he was left frustrated by Swanage & Wareham’s tactics as Lions successfully defended the Dorset & Wiltshire Cup.

In a largely dour encounter at Dorchester RFC, Lions were forced to come from behind to win 13-3 after Phil Graves put Swans in front with a well-taken penalty.

Anthony Dunkerley’s try six minutes before the break, however, sent Dunn’s troops in 5-3.

Simon McFarlane then added a penalty of his own after 70 minutes, before Dunkerley’s second try made the game safe a minute from time.

But head coach Dunn admitted the clash was lacking as a spectacle in front of a partisan crowd.

He said: “From our perspective it was a most frustrating afternoon. We turned up wanting to play some expansive rugby and put on a show, but any opportunity to do that was thwarted.

“We scored two tries and had two mysteriously disallowed by touch judges and a score of 23-3 would have been a fairer reflection of the difference between the two teams.

“But it turned out to be a war of attrition and I’m really proud of our forwards for the way they dogged it out.

“They were superb in the scrum, took everything that was thrown at them and finished the stronger.

“The difference between the two sets of backs was more marked, but for a variety of reasons, we were unable to play the expansive game we wanted to.

“It was a good crowd and it felt like they shared my frustrations, but the players enjoyed it and there was a good deal of respect between the two sides.”

Sunday’s triumph was Lions’ ninth Twin Counties title in 11 final appearances, “We’ve never lost to Swans now in cup finals and we have brought the cup home to Bournemouth where it should be,” added Dunn.

“It was the right result, but it was a good deal closer than it should have been.”

The Echo was unable to contact Swans.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s quest for five Twin Counties trophies was dealt a blow.

The club’s second team went down 27-19 against Chippenham at Sherborne, while both sets of colts were also defeated in their finals.

The thirds, however, claimed the silverware with a 24-10 win over North Dorset at Swanage & Wareham.

Lions: Davies, Dunkerley, Bruce, Payne, Pope (O’Brien, McFarlane), Chislett, Hardcastle, Wareham, Cawley, Manning, Forrest, Kenny, Seward, Crombie (Buffery), Ford (Burns). Unused subs: Blackburn, Hales, White.