Dillon hits back at 'dour' cup finals claim (From Bournemouth Echo)

Dillon hits back at 'dour' cup finals claim

7:00am Friday 16th April 2010 in

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SWANS manager Tom Dillon has refuted claims that they play boring rugby after Bournemouth boss David Dunn admitted he wanted to see a county cup final spectacle following two “dour affairs”.

Lions have sealed victory over Swanage & Wareham in the dying moments of each Dorset & Wilts Cup final in the past two seasons.

And the Chapel Gate outfit’s coach is aiming for a hat-trick of triumphs at Meyrick Park tomorrow (3pm).

Dunn said: “The previous two finals have been pretty dour affairs, so I’m really hoping we’re going to put on a spectacle and a good show of rugby.

“There is very much a contrast in styles between the two sides and the law changes for this season will suit Swans.

“It’s their 15th final in succession. They have a tremendous record in the competition.

“But we have won the cup in the last two years and have an excellent tradition of doing well in the cup, albeit going back further in time.

“While we were unlucky to lose at Chinnor last weekend, it was a very good warm-up for us for the kind of game were are expecting on Saturday.

“We’re unchanged from last weekend. Everyone came through in good shape and it’s always nice to have a settled side going into a cup final.”

Dillon said: “We have full respect for what Lions have achieved in National Three South West this season, but we won’t have respect for them on Saturday.

“They know how to win games in their division, but I think the first 60 minutes of the final will be tight and then we have to hope we can just edge it.

“I’m proud of what my boys have done in South West One East this term after our poor start, but we’ll have to produce our best performance of the campaign to beat Bournemouth.

“David’s a great coach, but I’m not sure ‘dour’ is the right word to describe the last two finals.

“Some people say we play boring rugby but we win games. We’ve moved it wide a lot more this season and I hope we can in this final.”

Lions: (from) K Lynch, Hearson, Stewart, Bruce, Pope, Ngapaku, Chislett, Burns, Wilford, Manning, Collier, Brooks, Ford, Stevenson, Hughes, Dunkerley, R Lynch, Wareham.

Swans: (from) Dunsford, Blackmore, Wilcox, Graves, Cotterill, Parish, Tomes, A Woodard, Elford, Andrews, Burgess, Penney, Jacobs, van Tuyl, Wright, Sheldrake, Corsie, Roberts, Rowberry.

<•>Oakmeadians complete their South West One East programme at Wootton Bassett.

Southern Counties South champions Wimborne will be in party mood at home to Bradford-on-Avon, while North Dorset host Sherborne.

<•>Dorset & Wilts will be aiming to reach a Twickenham final when they clash with Yorkshire in a county under-20 championship last-four tie at Chapel Gate on Sunday (2.15pm).