WILL Croker watched Bournemouth defy the numbers game to topple league-leaders Barnstaple and then insisted his side “will win the league” if they believe in the statistics that matter.

Tries from Wyn Roberts, Grant Hancox and Joe Rees helped Lions to a 23-7 triumph over the National Three South West pacesetters at Chapel Gate.

Croker’s troops overcame the odds despite conceding a whopping 26 penalties, Mike Treloar and Matt Warwick receiving yellow cards and the absence of Matt Christopher, Patrick Fraser, Alex Everett-Bolter and Anthony Fitch.

But while it appeared Bournemouth had upset the apple cart, Croker argued a deeper look at figures made for more favourable reading and challenged his charges to believe in their promotion-winning capability.

Croker told the Daily Echo: “It was our best performance of the season so far.

“We had five penalties to their 26 which was just crazy. I don’t like getting at referees because we couldn’t play the game without them but for us to win against that sort of statistic was just sensational.

“Barnstaple were not the best side we have faced this season. They were okay and turned up to play but the score flattered them incredibly.

“They never looked a threat. We just didn’t give them a chance to play and we came away disappointed not to get the bonus point.

“There is usually a stand-out team but if you look at the statistics, we have the second-best defence in the league and fourth-best attack yet sit sixth. The table tells a strange tale.

“If we can join the dots and turn those numbers into results, we will win the league. We are currently five points off second so if we can win at Ivybridge next weekend and at home after that, we could well go second.

“We are still gunning for it. There was a real intensity about the boys that I had not seen before, it was almost like they had started to believe.

“They had 21 more opportunities to kick for territory and have a go at us yet we still beat them in the way we did. We are incredibly buoyed by that and head to Ivybridge full of confidence.

“I think the league might just sit up and take notice now.”

One sour note for the Chapel Gate chief was the withdrawal of Roberts, who suffered suspected medial ligament damage while scoring the opening try after 27 minutes. His injury will be assessed this week.

Croker reported that Fitch’s hamstring tear was likely to keep him out for another week but that he hoped to have him back for the home clash with high-flying Brixham on December 5.

n Front-row Joe Tarrant and scrum-half Grant Hancox are set to feature for London Irish A against their Bristol counterparts tonight (KO 7.15pm).