BOURNEMOUTH were left to rue a lack of end product as some neat approach play yielded no reward in yesterday’s 21-10 defeat at Newton Abbot.

Lions enjoyed most of the play, particularly in the second half, but errant forward passes wasted good midfield work to open up gaps.

Newton, who went into the clash boasting a three-match winning run on home soil, opened up a six-point lead against the run of play with two penalties from full-back Josh Smith during the first 15 minutes.

But it was Bournemouth who crossed the whitewash first as flanker Tony Dunkerley finished off some patient forward play to touch down in the right corner. Fly-half Jon Sanchez pulled his conversion wide.

The visitors suffered a blow when number-eight Jack Hennings, inset, was sin-binned after half an hour and it proved costly when the hosts crashed over three minutes later.

Bournemouth were perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty try just before the break when Chris Jeffes was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on and the score remained 11-5 at the interval.

Newton’s Ben Cole was consigned to 10 minutes on the sidelines just after the restart but despite some enterprising play on a soft surface, Lions could not take advantage.

Smith kicked another penalty during a rare foray forward for Newton but Bournemouth hit straight back with the forwards forging ahead to set up Alex Sutherland’s 60th-minute try.

However, Newton redressed the balance with 10 minutes to play to power over the line and Smith’s well-placed kick made it 21-10.

Centres Scott Chislett and Wyn Roberts tried in vain to salvage a bonus point but it was not be and Bournemouth were left empty-handed despite their exertions in North Devon.

The setback saw Bournemouth drop to 10th in the National Three South West standings, two places and one point above the division’s three relegation places.

Lions: Hancox, Sutherland, Roberts, Chislett, Sanchez, Jeffes, Hardcastle, Terry, Richardson, Manning, Scott, Warwick, Rees, Dunkerley, Hennings. Subs: Hales, Morgan, Smith.