CHAPEL Gate chief David Dunn has highlighted the importance of Sam Hardcastle’s eye-catching form as Lions prepare to continue their title tilt.

Bournemouth will be bidding to carry on their table-topping run when they host Barnstaple tomorrow.

Key player Hardcastle goes into the match as the joint-leading tryscorer in National Three South West, his tally of 16 only matched by team-mate Robbie Searle.

Lions’ record holder with 116 tries, Hardcastle has again been a major player this season during the club’s push for promotion.

And Dunn says the 30-year-old’s loyalty to his local club means he is determined to ensure they achieve success.

The Bournemouth director of rugby told the Daily Echo: “It is his 14th season with the club.

“Sam is a local lad and he came through the club’s youth and minis section.

“He went to play in Australia and then in the Midlands when he was at university.

“He came back to us and he really is very passionate about the team and the club.

“He is in fantastic form. Onlookers were saying to us on Saturday how special our scrum-half actually is – and they were neutrals who had come to watch the game.”

Lions will aim to maintain their five-point lead over major championship rivals Chinnor when they host Barnstaple, who have recorded nine victories in 14 league matches this term.

Bournemouth were 28-3 victors when the teams met in Devon in September.

But Dunn is expected a more difficult match this time round.

He added: “It won’t be easy.

“We beat them quite comprehensively down there but they will have had time to regroup during the Christmas break.”

Hooker Frazer Wilford is expected to return for Lions following a knee injury. Ben Stewart and Neil Stanton-Ketchley have also been added to the Bournemouth squad.

Lions: (from) K Lynch, Searle, Connolly, Chislett, Flynn, Mallard, Pollard, Hardcastle, R Lynch, Burns, Tarrant, Manning, Seward, Forrest, Hughes, Hennings, Crombie, Hart, Stanton-Ketchley, Stewart.

• In South West One East, Swanage & Wareham visit Swindon.

It will be second against third when North Dorset host Walcot in Southern Counties South. Elsewhere in the level seven division, Oakmeadians entertain bottom-placed Melksham, while Wimborne travel to Blandford.