6:38pm Tuesday 2nd February 2010
By Phil Chard
BOURNEMOUTH new boy Tim Collier could be set for a spell on the sidelines with a broken nose after being forced off prematurely in their nail-biting 23-22 home win over Coney Hill.
The former Worcester star also sustained blurred vision and was substituted in the first period with Lions 13-0 in front in the National Three South West clash.
They stretched their lead to 16-0 before Coney Hill hit back hard to take advantage of Collier’s early departure and forge into a 22-16 advantage.
But in a pulsating final 10 minutes Tim Wareham bagged a late try and Michael Pope kept cool to slot over the conversion and seal Bournemouth’s victory.
Lions coach David Dunn, who saw Rory Hearson and Pope notch their other touch downs, said: “We showed real character to hang in there and produce a storming finish.
“We really did run riot to score that converted try at the death, although on balance I felt we deserved our victory.”
Dunn added: “Although Tim did extremely well, we weren’t going to risk him after he suffered blurred vision.”
Lions also lost Damian Le Roux to a leg injury midway through the second period.
Bournemouth: K Lynch, Dunkerley, Higgins, Payne, Hearson, Pope, Chislett, Wareham, R Lynch, Manning, Collier (Burns 28), Seward, Stevenson, Le Roux (Stanton-Ketchley 62), Hughes. Unused sub: Flynn.
<•>Phil Graves slotted over two penalties as Swanage & Wareham slumped to a 30-6 defeat at High Wycombe in South West One East.
Swanage & Wareham: Dunsford, Wilcox, Cottrell, Graves, Parish, Harris (Tomes 22), McKeown, Andrews, R Elford, A Woodard (Frampton 37), Burgess, Penney, Warren, Hornby (van Tuyl 52), Wright.
<•>Tries from Gavin Maltman and Russell Tinsdale helped Wimborne grab a vital 15-10 victory at Devizes and move into second spot in Southern Counties South.
James Mikolajewski added one penalty and one conversion as the All Blacks stepped up their promotion push.
Wimborne: Hunt, R Brokenshire, Tinsdale (Unwin), Roberts (O’Bryan), Hawkings, Coulling, Champ, Morgan, Llewellyn, Mikolajewski, van Wyk, Griffith, King (J Brokenshire), Andrews, Maltman.
<•>Wimborne leapfrogged North Dorset after they lost 17-8 at home to leaders Frome in a tight tussle.
<•>Ellingham & Ringwood beat Old Alleynians 22-20 away in London Three South West.
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