BOSS Will Croker heaped praise on “brilliant” Sam Hardcastle after he broke through the 1,000 point-barrier for Bournemouth.

The stalwart scrum-half recorded his ninth career hat-trick for the club during the commanding 65-7 South West Premier victory at Camborne.

Hardcastle, 37, showcased his rapid turn of foot as Lions extended to six games their flawless start to the campaign.

Croker told the Daily Echo: “Sam was absolutely brilliant again on Saturday.

“The boys absolutely love him and nobody can really understand how he works. He is in as good a shape now as he was when he was 30.

“The speed at which he is running today is still faster than most of the players in our league. The score which he got from 60 yards out when he set off against their winger – it never looked like they were going to catch him.

“I think it has upped his game with the competition from the likes of Mike Pope, Grant Hancox and all these guys who have also been playing at scrum-half.

“Sam has never really had a challenge before. It has always been ‘number nine, Sam Hardcastle’. All of a sudden, we have seen him step up his application further.

“He is just a terrific rugby player and a terrific example to the youngsters.”

Hardcastle has served Bournemouth for more than 25 years having started in the under-11 ranks. He made his senior debut against Swanage & Wareham in March 1999.

“Sam is actually not the most prolific gym-goer,” added Croker. ”He works in a school where he has access to a gym facility.

“He isn’t someone who goes and bashes the weights but he watches what he eats and has his own little routine with what he does pre-game.”

Lions ran in 10 tries against Camborne. Hamish Renwick, Jack Hennings, Joe Tarrant, Adam Higgins and Alex Everett-Bolter also touched down.

Croker, whose side had travelled the previous day in preparation to take on the Cornish outfit, said: “We were really ruthless when we got in behind Camborne.

“Once we made a line-break we almost always scored and that was the fundamental difference.

“The work-rate once we made a line-break in terms of team-mates flooding through as support was the real key.

“I think it’s a mark of this team at the moment that they do feel confident. They do back each other and you could see it when we all got together on the Friday night.

“They all get on, there is no cliques and everyone chips in with morale, banter and all the stuff that goes with it. They all play for each other and there is a real togetherness.”

Lions are one point ahead of Ivybridge at the top of the pile having missed out on just one bonus point from their opening fixtures.

They are set to host Cleve on Saturday, October 20.