BOURNEMOUTH edged Wimborne 13-7 in a scrappy encounter that saw no points scored in the second half.

Wimborne hosted the Lions in front of a large crowd, with the hosts up for the first league derby since 2006.

Wimborne crossed the whitewash for what would be their only score of the game in early on, and this was converted.

After Grant Hancox slotted a penalty, Bournemouth then scored their only try of the game through Matt Horne, before Hancox added the extras and another three points before halftime, with the scores at 13-7 to the visitors.

The second half was a real arm wrestle, with neither team adding the scores, and the game ending as it had been at the interval.

With the result, Bournemouth drop to fourth but extend their winning run, Winchester nudging ahead of the Lions thanks to a bonus point win over Petersfield, while Wimborne are fifth.

(Image: Simon Carlton) Bournemouth director of rugby, Will Croker, said he was delighted that his side came away with the win in a ‘scrappy and inaccurate’ game.

“Both teams made unforced errors with ball in hand and I don't think either team were able to quite impart their game plan on the other,” Croker said.

“I think where we possibly just had the upper hand was our game management.

“I thought Grant Hancox at nine box kicked really well, applied pressure in the right places and we moved around the pitch pretty well from there.

“I think also just the quality of our defence, the willingness to keep getting off the line, making shot after shot after shot, meaning that their big ball carriers didn't really get too much ground, was probably the fundamental difference, in the end.”

Croker said while they were disappointed not to add a bonus point, they were pleased to get the win, which has opened something of a gap between the top four sides and the chasing pack – nine points now separating these two sides in fourth and fifth.

(Image: Simon Carlton) He said that the game was a physical one and as a result, Bournemouth will be missing a few players for the coming weeks in Euan Tremlett, Stan Vincent, Sam Hardcastle and Hancox.

“It was a tough, attritional afternoon and we’ve got to dust ourselves down now and get back into some training, probably a bit lighter than normal this week, to try and get some sore bodies ready for Andover,” Croker said.

Bournemouth’s second team secured a last-gasp win over Basingstoke, adding a fourth bonus point try with the last play to win 28-21 after it had been tied at 21 apiece.

Croker said: “All round for the club this week, it's been something.

“We've been delighted to have come away with two big W's and we'll roll our sleeves up and get ready for this week.”