COACH Dan Connolly proved the perfect stand-in as he scored a hat-trick to help Bournemouth secure league survival with victory over Old Patesians.

After wing Wyn Roberts had fallen ill on Friday night, Connolly was thrust into the side and his star turn greatly aided Lions' charge to a 38-31 triumph at Chapel Gate.

The victory meant that Bournemouth could not be caught by any of the sides in the bottom three of National Three South West, steered to safety by the temporary coaching team of Dan Connolly, Craig White and Tim Collier.

With a second successive relegation successfully avoided, Lions can approach their final two league contests relaxed, having beaten the drop with a crucial win on Saturday.

In addition to Roberts, Bournemouth were without flanker Charlie Morris-Mean who had suffered a suspected broken jaw in a midweek game for Worcester Cavaliers against the Navy, with Matt Warwick replacing him.

Old Pats centre Jon Coles burst clear for an unconverted early score but the hosts made a quickly replied. Scott Chislett charged down an attempted clearance kick and Alex Sutherland added the extras to put Lions in front.

Full-back Sutherland was soon amongst the points again when he caught Joe Gwyther's superbly-judged pass and charged away to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try, making the score 12-5 after 17 minutes.

Matters continued to improve when Chislett punched through and the ball was eventually worked to Connolly, who outstripped the defence. Sutherland added the extras.

Back came Old Pats as Hughes found a good touch five metres out and number eight John Barker drove over to score his first try of the afternoon, which was unconverted.

In response, Lions moved the ball left from a scrum and Connolly made the most of the space he had been afforded to cross in the corner.

There was still time for Old Pats to reduce to 24-17 the deficit as George Hughes intercepted Gwyther's pass and ran virtually the length of pitch to score, before converting.

Gwyther made up for his error in the second half when quick hands allowed him to cross the whitewash for his maiden first-team try, converted by Sutherland.

The 14-point advantage did not last long with Barker bulldozing over again and Hughes adding the extras with 26 minutes to play.

Connolly completed his hat-trick in fine style when he fielded a clearance kick and set off on a weaving run. Although the Lions coach was almost stopped on the line, he forced his way over to register the second hat-trick in Bournemouth colours. Sutherland's kick added two further points.

In the dying seconds, Old Pats registered another score as Barker drove over for his own hat-trick, with Hughes adding the conversion.

Lions: Sutherland, Fitch, Higgins, Chislett, Connolly, Gwyther, Hardcastle, Burns, Manning, Firetto, Knott, Scott, Hennings, Warwick, Rees. Replacements: Hertz, Smith, Terry.