BOURNEMOUTH coach David Dunn saluted their “absolutely magnificent performance” after they thrashed Swanage & Wareham 46-8 to retain the Dorset & Wilts Cup.

Lions ran in seven tries – with Rory Hearson grabbing the first hat-trick by one of their players in a final – to extinguish the Purbeckers’ challenge.

Skipper Robert Elford admitted his disappointment with Swans’ poor first-half display, which saw them concede an early try through Anthony Dunkerley.

Bournemouth, who also scored tries through Michael Pope, Karim Lynch and Dunkerley again, with Pope popping over four conversions and one penalty, cruised into a 27-0 interval lead.

There was no way back for Swans, who replied with a Phil Graves penalty and Matt Jacobs try, as the gulf in class between National League outfit Lions and their South West One East rivals was clearly evident.

Dunn said: “Our players were determined to give a show of open rugby. So we’re pleased we did that straight from the start when we retrieved Swans’ kick-off, moved the ball out wide and scored at the other end in 32 seconds – that’s all it took.

“We’d laid down a marker and it was a complete performance from our players.

“The forwards were superb. The set pieces were brilliant, as was our scrummaging and lineouts, and the way we used the ball in the three-quarters, with pace and strength, was fantastic.

“You wouldn’t single out any individuals, to a man, everyone played their part. Rory happened to be on the end of three tries, but he’d be the first to admit it was a great team performance.

“I’d like to pay tribute to coaches Junior Paramore and Robert Todd, who have brought their expertise from the professional game to the club. It’s played a major part in our success story.”

Lions: K Lynch, Hearson, Stewart (Stanton-Ketchley 73), Bruce, Pope (Webber 69), Ngapaku, Chislett, Burns (Wareham 58), Wilford, Manning, Collier, Brooks, Ford (R Lynch 60), Dunkerley, Hughes.

Swans: Dunsford, Blackmore (Rowberry 50), Cottrell (Corsie 60), Graves, Wilcox, Tomes (Roberts 25), Parish, Andrews, Elford, Woodard (Sheldrake 45), Burgess, Penney, Jacobs, van Tuyl, Wright.