LOOK out National Three South, the Lions are showing their teeth.

It’s a phrase that may conjure images of snarling, battle-hardened bruisers but there is a bigger reason behind Bournemouth showing off their pearly whites.

The Chapel Gate club has started to smile again.

A torturous 15-month spell, during which the club amassed a paltry 10 wins from 41 league matches, undid so much of the club’s hard work in reaching the heady heights of National Two South.

See all the pictures from Bournemouth v Newton Abbot in our gallery

The aftermath of Budge Pountney’s ill-fated spell in charge of Lions had many wondering just where rock bottom was and a second consecutive relegation became a daunting and very real prospect this term.

But six-and-a-half weeks after handing the coaching reins to revered former players Craig White, Dan Connolly and player-coach Tim Collier, Bournemouth appear to have rid themselves of that crippling malaise.

This comfortable victory, albeit against a Newton Abbot side that rested several players ahead of a county cup final next weekend, was Lions’ third from five matches.

And while it may not have been the most scintillating of shows from the boys in sable and gold, determination, discipline and confidence proved enough for a crucial bonus-point success.

A swift exchange involving Joe Gwyther, Scott Chislett and Adam Higgins h ad threatened to prise open Abbot within five minutes and while the attack led to a presentable penalty opportunity, Alex Sutherland somehow kicked wide.

Gwyther was at the heart of everything Bournemouth tried early on and their sporadic early pressure eventually paid off.

Club-record try scorer Sam Hardcastle landed his sixth of the season and 151st in Bournemouth colours by bustling through with 10 minutes on the clock. This time Sutherland made no mistake with the boot.

The visitors rallied but found Lions in unforgiving mood.

Away fly-half Will Castleton should have reduced the arrears but failed to land a simple-looking kick and within minutes, Bournemouth might have grabbed a second try when Higgins agonisingly allowed a Chislett pass to escape his grasp.

Lock Matt Warwick picked up a nasty looking cut to the head which ultimately forced his withdrawal.

Lions continued to exert an element of control but became visibly frustrated in their attempts to build on a narrow seven-point lead.

The hosts should have doubled their advantage seconds before the half-time whistle but could not quite manage to touch down having done all the hard work in the driving maul.

A moment of quality was needed to put distance between the teams and it duly arrived seven minutes after the restart when Higgins set off on a mazy run in a tight pocket of space, bamboozling his opponents to cross the whitewash in style. Sutherland made it 14-0.

With little to lose, Newton Abbot pushed forward and Lions were at full stretch to deny former England under-16 wing Jack Bond a free run down the left.

The spell of pressure continued with Bournemouth briefly consigned to their own 22 and Sutherland had to be at his very best to cut out Dean Avery’s deft clip into space.

Castleton kicked three points for the visitors but the same player dropped a decisive clanger moments later.

The Abbot fly-half dallied in launching a kick from deep with Chislett on hand to charge down his punt up field and bundle over Bournemouth’s third. Sutherland again added the extras.

Bond was once more denied at the last, this time by Higgins, but the hosts kept pushing for the fourth try that would earn a precious bonus point.

Hardcastle almost made Bond pay for a moment’s hesitation with 10 minutes to play but as the pressure mounted, replacement Alan Benham was the man to crash over his second try of the campaign to seal a maximum haul.

With the game already won, Higgins summed up Bournemouth’s sheer will to win with a last-ditch tackle under the posts to deny Abbot a late consolation for their plucky efforts.

The Lions players emerged from their post-match huddle in relaxed mood.

Having worked so hard to earn a 13-point cushion over the bottom three, they can afford themselves a little laughter.

Match facts

Lions: Hancox, Sutherland, Higgins, Chislett (Hertz, 66), Roberts, Gwyther, Hardcastle, Terry, Manning, Firetto, Scott, Warwick (Burns, blood 25, Warwick 29, Burns 32), Hennings (Benham, 56), Bovett, Rees.

Scoring timeline – 10 min: Try – Sam Hardcastle (Bournemouth) 5-0. 11 min: Conv – Alex Sutherland (Bournemouth) 7-0. 47 min: Try – Adam Higgins (Bournemouth) 12-0. 48 min: Conv – Alex Sutherland (Bournemouth) 14-0. 55 min: Pen – Will Castleton (Newton Abbot) 14-3. 57 min: Try – Scott Chislett (Bournemouth) 19-3. 58 min: Conv – Alex Sutherland (Bournemouth) 21-3. 72 min: Try – Alan Benham (Bournemouth) 26-3. 73 min: Conv – Alex Sutherland (Bournemouth) 28-3.