COACH Dan Connolly praised Bournemouth’s improved discipline but admitted a slow start had cost them at Hornets.

Lions were beaten 33-18 at Hutton Moor Park by hosts who had played more than half the game with 14 men.

Fifteen of the visitors’ points in the National Three South West clash came in the final quarter of an hour when victory was all but out of reach.

However, Connolly felt aspects of the display were worthy of praise.

He told the Daily Echo: “In the past two weeks we have played well but have given away too many penalties and that has made the difference in terms of winning and losing matches.

“During the week we had focused on the players’ reaction to the ref and from that point of view Saturday was a great success – there was only one yellow card and the penalty count was much lower.

“Unfortunately, we were a bit off the boil. We reverted to our style of play before Christmas and really let Hornets into the game, which was a bit disappointing.

“It was a really boggy pitch and the one-man advantage didn’t really make a difference until towards the end when our fitness levels helped us.

“That was when we scored most of our points so it was a shame it took that long for the guys to wake up and realise we were in the game.”

Alec Chase crossed for Hornets early on before a penalty from fly-half Lewis Dennett reduced the arrears.

Sean Disney was red-carded for a stamp on Alex Sutherland after the latter had not rolled away, an offence for which Sutherland was binned.

With the break looming, Hornets duo Phil Hogarth and Matt Cornish crossed the whitewash to extend to 19-3 the advantage.

The home side added a couple more tries following the resumption courtesy of Adam Francis and Jermaine Jones, putting them 33-3 in front.

Lions made a moderate comeback in the closing stages with debutant Cameron Hertz, on as a replacement, setting up Sutherland for the visitors’ first try.

A chip and chase by Wyn Roberts allowed the winger to touch down in the corner, while skipper Alan Manning was driven over with two minutes left.

Connolly added: “We’ve got a good run of games now and, hopefully, we can start picking up a few points.

“I’m expecting this run of games to be good for us as long as we knuckle down and work hard.”

Lions: Hancox, Sutherland, Higgins, Chislett, Roberts, Dennett, Hardcastle, Terry, Manning, Firetto, Knott, Scott, Hennings, Renwick, Rees. Replacements: Benham, Bovett, Hertz.