DAVID Dunn warned that Lions’ latest encounter was a sign of the increased resistance that could make their path to promotion more treacherous.

The Chapel Gate boss believes opponents will be better prepared to challenge Bourne-mouth’s early-season dominance – having had a chance to do their homework on the title challengers.

Lions were given a glimpse of the more difficult contests that could lie ahead during the second half of the campaign against lowly – but stubborn – Amer-sham & Chiltern on Saturday.

Bournemouth claimed a comfortable-looking 44-0 victory – but Dunn admitted the scoreline did not tell the whole story as the third-from-bottom hosts stood firm for long periods.

The usually free-scoring Lions then ran away with it to remain five points clear of Chinnor at the National Three South West summit, although the Oxfordshire outfit have a game in hand.

Coach Dunn told the Daily Echo: “It was never going to be easy. It is the second round of matches now and everyone has seen us once. There are no surprises and everybody has got the DVD and done their homework.

“At our level, most people have got DVD analysis and their statistics, and people do their homework. The second half of the season is going to be tough.”

Following a break from competitive action during the festive period, Lions were restricted to a 16-0 lead at the interval against Amersham, thanks to Sam Hardcastle’s 40th-minute try and 11 points from the boot of Dan Pollard.

More holes eventually began to appear in Amersham’s defence and Lions found their form, racking up a further 28 points in the second period.

Hardcastle joined Robbie Searle as the division’s joint-leading tryscorer with 16 as he crossed for his second of the game, while Dan Connolly, Scott Chislett and Jack Hennings were also on the scoresheet. Pollard slotted the conversions.

Dunn added: “It was a comprehensive win in the end, but it is never easy after a two-week lay-off. Our hooker Frazer Wilford had to withdraw at the last minute with a knee injury, which didn’t help.

“Amersham were very well organised and gave us a tough time. As the game wore on, our experience and superior physicality meant their defence cracked. Once we had cracked it open, then it was all over.”

Lions: K Lynch, Searle, Connolly, Chislett, Flynn (Mallard, 66), Pollard, Hardcastle, R Lynch (Burns, 60), Tarrant, Manning, Seward, Forrest (Hughes, 60), Hennings, Crombie, Hart.