LIONS chief David Dunn is pleasantly surprised by his National Two South rookies but admits: “It is a bigger step up than I had envisaged.”

Dunn believes Bournemouth have adapted well to life in the fourth tier following the Chapel Gate outfit’s promotion success last season.

Playing at the highest level in the club’s history, Lions claimed six wins and 30 points in 14 matches during the first half of the current campaign.

Many members of the title-winning squad have been retained and Dunn has been impressed by their ability to compete against better opposition.

Delivering his half-term report, the Lions director of rugby told the Daily Echo: “It is a more professional league and virtually every team is professional and plays in a professional way and everything that comes with that.

“That goes from the streetwise nature of how teams play and some of the cynical stuff that also goes on.

“The players have done better than I thought and have come on leaps and bounds.

“There have been lots of positives and I am more than happy with the way the players have adapted.”

Lions face a clash with fellow divisional new boys Chinnor in Oxfordshire tomorrow (2.30pm). Bournemouth defeated their rivals from 2011-12 at home in September but Chinnor boast a better overall record and sit in sixth position on 42 points.

Dunn, who says his team is “broadly on target” at this stage of the season, added: “We had a fantastic victory over them early in the season and took a lot of confidence from that.

“It is never easy to go there – we haven’t won there in the league – and it is a very difficult place to play. I hope we can kick off the new year in style.”

Chris Hughes and Frazer Wilford are set to return from ankle and shoulder injuries, respectively, but Ben Stevenson and Eddie Edwards (both ill) face late fitness tests.

Lions: (from) Carrel, Manning, Wilford, Firetto, Andrews, Collier, Seward, Brooks, Forrest, Grace, Booth, Hart, Hughes, Hardcastle, Drake, Stevenson, O’Brien, Pearce, Chislett, Connolly, Pollard, Trow.

  • In South West One East, struggling Swanage & Wareham visit Old Centralians.

Dorset & Wilts knockout kings Wimborne host Buckingham in the Southern Counties Intermediate Cup semi-finals.

Oakmeadians travel to Wootton Bassett in Southern Counties South, while London Three South West outfit Ellingham & Ringwood entertain Old Wellingtonians.