WILL Croker says his "Christmas dinner will go down far easier" if Bournemouth follow up their tumultuous victory over Old Redcliffians by beating Bracknell on Saturday.

The Lions have suffered a series of agonising, narrow defeats since launching their National Three South West campaign in August, but bucked that trend by condemning Old Reds to just their second loss this term last weekend.

Head coach Croker believes his team's 29-23 victory was the product of lessons absorbed from some tough days.

He told the Daily Echo: "It’s about maturity. Sometimes you can take great benefit from those narrow losses, provided you learn from them.

"If you continue to do the same things time and again off the back of that then it shows a lack of maturity, and even a lack of rugby intelligence.

"We knew Old Reds would be a battle. They have a big physical side, their backs are all big boys.

"But we felt the performances have been getting stronger and stronger, not necessarily from a ball in hand perspective, but from a mental perspective. We've been shedding that mental fragility we had earlier in the season."

Bournemouth trailed Bristol-based Old Reds 17-13 at the break, despite Freddie Gleadowe's converted try, a penalty from Grant Hancox and the first of man-of-the match Adam Davies's two drop goals – only the third time a Lions player has accomplished that feat in a league game.

The teams traded penalties after the interval, before Gleadowe, on his home debut, crossed for a second time to propel his team towards a 23-20 advantage.

From there, the home side kept their opponents at arm's length to seal a victory Croker treasures above all others achieved during his time at the helm.

He said: "I would say it’s possibly the best result since this coaching team came together 18 months ago. Even though we went behind in periods it felt so controlled.

"There have been games when we’ve scored 50-60 points and you’re admiring the quality of your attacking play. But for our level of maturity, professionalism and control that was our best performance."

Gleadowe formerly skippered Croker's Basingstoke side but the outside centre has rarely been available to his boss at Chapel Gate, owing to his commitments as a doctor.

Nevertheless, he is available for the weekend visit of a Bracknell side that is nestled directly below seventh-placed Lions – and which won the teams' early season encounter 27-20.

They also enter the clash on a high, having edged out Newton Abbot 34-30 on their last outing.

"They’re a side we should have put to the sword at their place," said Croker.

"They’ll be shrewd, they’ll be sharp, they’ll fancy themselves after that win and we have to expect they’ll come with a little bit of fire in their bellies.

"We have a three-week break after this game, which comes at a good time for us, and it’ll make my Christmas dinner go down far easier if we’ve beaten Bracknell."