WILL Croker praised "angry Welshman" Eddie Edwards after he ended a three-and-a-half year absence from Bournemouth's first team with an all-star display in the win over Launceston.

Lions prevailed 27-6 in Saturday's National Three South West clash at Chapel Gate and having scored a first-half try, Edwards was among those who stepped up to the plate as the hosts were forced to defend for long periods.

And Bournemouth head coach Croker admitted the wing had completed a very useful afternoon's work.

Croker told the Daily Echo: "Eddie Edwards was singled out by the opposition as being one of the best defenders they had played against. He was absolutely outstanding and scored a good try.

"He has played a couple of games for the twos and done very well. Even when he was retired he always maintained an incredibly high level of fitness.

"He is a great communicator and a real livewire to have around, an angry Welshman who gets underneath everybody's skin – in a good way.

"He was brought back in not just for his rugby ability but also his experience – he has played National Two rugby – and he didn't let us down at all."

Lions were ahead just minutes in when flanker Jack Hennings scored close to the posts, Grant Hancox adding the extras.

Hancox then kicked a penalty from five metres out and the hosts extended their lead when Edwards touched down on the right, with the conversion added.

A pair of Fraser Honey penalties reduced to 17-6 Launceston's arrears, only for tighthead prop Alan Manning to score a converted try.

Scott Chislett was yellow-carded in the closing stages of the half and after Hancox slotted a penalty early in the second period, Dan Cawley saw yellow.

Although that coincided with Chislett's return, Bournemouth were soon reduced to 13 players when Cawley was binned.

However, the home side resisted substantial pressure to maintain their lead until the final whistle.

Croker added: "We played very well. The brief was that we needed to be more confrontational and play more of the game on the gain line and try and work beyond the opposition rather than playing in front of them.

"It really worked and we had some outstanding individual performances, not least Joe Rees in the pack, who was man of the match.

"It was a collective effort. There were long periods where we were defending on our try line and we had a siege mentality where we just weren't going to let them cross. Even with 13, we still battled our way out."

Manning will miss the trip to table-toppers Camborne in 10 days having succumbed to a shoulder injury.

Lions: Hancox, Edwards, Everett-Bolter, Chislett, Roberts, Davies, Hardcastle, Spikings, Cawley, Manning, Treloar, Kenneally, Hennings, McDonald, Rees. Replacements: Burns, Kingswell, Levey.

Bournemouth Under-15s face Winton and Bournemouth Collegiate School Under-15s at Chapel Gate on Friday (7.30pm).

The match will raise funds for Forest Holme Hospice. For more information phone Matt Sturgess on 07967 393858.