COACH Will Croker admitted the horror injury to Alex Sutherland was one of the worst he had seen on a rugby field.

Fullback Sutherland sustained facial injuries and concussion when colliding with Bracknell hooker Michael Clarke midway through the first half of Saturday’s 27-20 defeat at Lily Hill Park.

Sutherland was tended to by Lions players Adam Davies and Wyn Roberts, both doctors away from National Three South West, before being taken to hospital by ambulance.

Croker, who watched his side suffer a second straight league reverse following the opening day defeat at Salisbury, told the Echo: “It was a horror injury, a really nasty head clash. Alex bit through his gum shield and through his lip and knocked four teeth out. He was also concussed, though, and clearly in a lot of pain.

“I think he had 20 stitches in total, internal and external. All his teeth need replacing too so he’ll be out for four weeks at least.

"The mouth always bleeds a lot but on this occasion there really was a lot of blood and he was out cold. Luckily Adam Davis and Wyn Roberts are doctors so they were able to do what was needed right away.”

Having fallen behind early on to Lewis Dennett’s penalty, Grant Hancox added a three-pointer of his own. But Lions fell 8-3 behind when Leo Bailey crashed over for the hosts and although Hancox added another penalty to make it 8-6, it was David Bates’s try and Hancox’s conversion just before half-time that handed Lions the initiative at 13-8.

Lions were rocked after the restart when evergreen Scott Chislett was sent to the bin for persistent offside and Bracknell took advantage when Kim Plant dived over and Dennett added the extras.

Alex Everett-Bolter’s converted try under the posts, though, put Lions back in front at 20-15 before Chislett saw red for a second yellow card offence.

Ben Sanderson’s try and Dennett’s conversion levelled matters, before Lions’ 14 men finally crumbled and Lachy Valentine crossed for a converted try a minute from time.

Croker added: “We scored right on half-time and felt like the momentum had swung our way but the sending off in the second half didn’t help. “The first yellow was for a team offence and Scott was unlucky and the second saw their scrum half throw the ball right at him and he was offside.

“It had a real impact on the game and we’re hoping he won’t be banned and that the sending off will be seen as relevant punishment.

“The whole game was frustrating, but I’m a realist and we weren’t good enough.”

Lions: Sutherland, Everett-Bolter, Hancox, Chislett, Roberts, Davies, Veneroso, Tarrant, Budd, Hughes, Soden, Bates, Kenneally, Bennett, Hennings. Subs: Jeffes, Levey, Yeats.