DAVID Dunn believes leading Bournemouth to promotion would be a fitting reward for inspirational captain Alan Manning.

Manning will be hoping to help Lions clinch the National League Three South West title when they host Weston-super-Mare on Saturday.

Victory at Chapel Gate would cap a memorable campaign for Bournemouth with 25-year-old forward Manning ever present during the season.

Lions director of rugby Dunn said: “Tight-head props are a rare breed and Alan has made 68 consecutive appearances in the front row which is an achievement in itself.

“He has led the team for three years and has led from the front, both on and off the field. He is a tremendous ball carrier and a great scrummager. He is an intelligent player, he always offers himself and always leads from the front.

“As captain, he brings cool, calm and collected thoughts. He is a good decision-maker under pressure, he has good relationships with referees on the field and he manages players very well.

“He is a great ambassador for the club and has got everything. It is absolutely tremendous that he is on the brink of achieving success, both for himself and the team, and, hopefully, we can finish the job on Saturday.”

Dunn also paid tribute to Manning for his professionalism following the untimely death of team-mate Sam Yarwood, who died 12 months ago in a canoeing accident in the Lake District, aged 22.

He added: “We have seen Alan grow, not only as a rugby player and captain, but as a man over the past three years. He was carrying the coffin of one of his team-mates a year ago and had to lead the players through that experience as well and it was a very difficult time.

“It was the first anniversary of Sam’s death on Friday and all the players got together. We were in contact, by telephone, with his family in Birmingham and are hoping his father and brothers will be at the game on Saturday.

“We came so close to winning promotion last year and lost in the play-off just three days after Sam’s funeral. We all want to go one better this year and make sure we do it and, while Sam is not the only reason, he has never been far from our thoughts throughout the past 12 months.”