BOURNEMOUTH agonisingly missed out on a victory that would have rubber-stamped their National Three South West status with a last-ditch 24-20 defeat at Old Centralians.

Lions went toe-to-toe with their Gloucester-based opponents and nudged in front with just seven minutes to play, only to be pegged back by Liam Hemming's converted try at the death.

The Chapel Gate outfit remains very much in control of its own destiny in the scrap for survival with a 12-point cushion over third-bottom Weston-super-Mare meaning one more victory would guarantee their place in rugby union's fifth tier for next season.

Hemming helped the hosts to a perfect start when his long kick found Joe Preece to dart over the line, a try that was converted by Hemming.

But Wyn Roberts hit straight back with a sublime effort for Bournemouth, doing well to take the ball in his stride, evade a challenge and dart through a slender pocket of space to cross the whitewash in the corner.

Alex Sutherland was unable to add the extras and Old Centralians then moved five points in front courtesy of a Hemming penalty but Lions had the last laugh before half-time.

With three minutes to go, club-record point scorer Sam Hardcastle managed to sneak through to the right of the posts with Sutherland's successful kick enough for a 12-10 interval lead.

Preece then swung the pendulum back in the home side's favour with his second try which was converted by Hemming, only for Alan Manning to level matters with a try on the hour.

Sutherland missed his kick but landed a penalty late on to put Bournemouth 20-17 in front. From there it was backs to the all but the visitors could not quite cross the finish line and lost out when Hemmings scored and converted the match winner.

Lions: Sutherland,Fitch, Higgins, Chislett, Roberts, Gwyther, Hardcastle, Burns, Manning, Firetto, Knott, Scott, Hennings, Morris-Mean, Rees. Replacements: Bellamy, Benham, Warwick.