BOURNEMOUTH head coach Will Croker admitted three knee injuries had rubbed salt in the wound as Lions fell to a 10-6 defeat at Old Centralians.

The visitors' disappointment at the loss was worsened by slipping further out of National Three South West promotion contention and injuries to forwards Ben Allman, Duncan Soden and John Peart.

Croker refused to blame the defeat on those enforced withdrawals, however, arguing that his team had simply not been good enough.

He told the Daily Echo: "It looks like Ben has damaged his medial ligaments, Duncan displaced his patella before it popped back in and John, on the last play of the game, damaged what could be his medial ligaments.

"It was a tough day but those injuries weren't the reason we lost. We lost because we weren't very good but the misery was compounded by those body blows.

"We played as badly in the first half as we have all season. We couldn't string any phases together which were recognisable as our game plan, we invited them on to us and just didn't perform.

"Old Cents looked like they wanted it more than we did. We had the elements with us and should have taken advantage.

"In the second half we were much better. We came out with a bit more intensity and energy and pummelled their line, and with a bit more patience we would have scored.

"I have to give them credit because they defended very well. It wasn't the second half that cost us, it was our first-half performance."

Lions troubles started early on Saturday morning when flankers Jack Hennings and Sam Bailey pulled out, with Rudi Kochanowski and Ollie Yeats taking their places at blindside and openside, respectively.

Following their arrival in Gloucestershire, Lions found themselves 3-0 down after just four minutes.

Outside-centre Grant Hancox then pulled a penalty wide of the posts before tying the scores up midway through the half.

Following a five-metre scrum and a period of pressure, Old Cents forced their way across the whitewash and a fine kick put them 10-3 in front with a 15 minutes remaining of the first period.

Allman and Peart were then forced to retire but three more points from the boot of Hancox brought the visitors to within four points at the break.

Hancox missed a penalty early in the second period, pulling his effort right of the post, and the scoreline remained the same until the final whistle.

Old Cents thought they had scored in the closing moments after fly-hacking their way into enemy territory but referee Ben Chadwick awarded Lions a penalty instead.

Bournemouth are now eight points adrift of second place – the play-off position for promotion – with seven games left.

Croker added: "It would take a miracle for us to get into second now. We would have to go unbeaten from here and a couple of the teams above us would have to have serious slip-ups.

"We are focused on our performances and making sure we finish the season as strongly as we can."

Lions: Veneroso, Everett-Bolter, Hancox, Chislett, Chandler, Gwyther, Hardcastle, Tarrant, Allman, Firetto, Soden, Peart, Kochanowski, Yeats, Rees. Replacements: Fraser, Snell, Treloar.