JACK Hennings is hoping the sun will shine on Bournemouth’s title bid today as Lions aim to capitalise on their preferred playing conditions.

The back-row forward insists the promotion-chasing Dorset outfit will make the most of the south coast weather by looking to utilise their free-flowing rugby against Chinnor.

Lions will be aiming to take a major step towards elevation to the fourth tier of the English game when they host their rivals in a top-of-the-table National Three South West clash at Chapel Gate (3pm).

The match is a potential winner-takes-all showdown as the victors will become hot favourites to land the division’s only automatic promotion place for a spot in next season’s National Two league.

Hennings, 28, believes today’s forecast for warm, dry and sunny weather could provide the hosts with a welcome boost.

He told the Daily Echo: “Those are our ideal playing conditions and that is when Bournemouth play really good rugby.

“We don’t like the mud but when it was really dry at the start of the season, we were scoring loads of points.

“Today will be a bit different but (we will still be) playing running rugby. We have got to tighten up on a few things because they are a good team – you can’t take that away from them.

“But we want to play our game and our game is running rugby, especially in this weather.”

Despite the potential prize on offer to the winners of the game, former Henley Hawks star Hennings insists Bournemouth will be approaching the match in their usual manner.

The Dorset & Wilts player added: “The preparations have been the same as normal and we are trying not to make it a big game, even though everyone knows it is a big game.

“Sometimes, people can hype it up to be too much of a match and put too much pressure on themselves.

“It is another game for Bournemouth. We know we have got to do a job but we have also had to do a job in all the other games we have played.

“We have got to think about the here and now and not about the future. As soon as the clock goes, it is about the 80 minutes and not what could happen after.”

See Monday’s Daily Echo for a report, reaction and picture special from the Chapel Gate clash.