Harry Leadbeater says Bournemouth’s 20-18 come-from-behind win at fifth placed Brixham could be one they look back fondly on in the summer.
The South West Premier leaders showed their mental resolve to fight back from 15-3 down at the break with two tries in the final five minutes.
That extended The Chapel Gate side’s winning run to 15 victories in their opening 16 fixtures and the 24-year-old said it was the mark of potential champions.
The lock said: “Brixham will feel hard done by as they played a fantastic game - running hard and defending for long periods of time.
“But winning games like that away from home by any means possible is an attribute that champions posses and when the league draws to a close who knows how important those points may be?
“I think it shows the belief and unity we have at the moment in the squad to never give up until the final whistle.”
It was certainly a game of two halves after Brixham wing Andre Simonetti gave his team an early sixth-minute lead with a try in the corner.
Billy Pinkus missed the extras but stretched their advantage further with a penalty with a quarter of proceedings passed.
With the wind gusting in from the Devon coast, Bournemouth marksman Grant Hancox failed to trouble the scorers with two penalty attempts of his own.
But he showed great strength of character to slot a shot off the tee on half hour for a foothold in the game.
Unfortunately, Brixham extended their lead further to 15-3 when centre Tom McLean went under the uprights following swift hands from a Bournemouth clearance kick.
Hancox and Pinkus then exchanged kicks off the tee, before the encounter erupted in the dying moments.
First versatile Bournemouth halfback Mike Pope darted over after 75 minutes.
Then with a lung-sapping 43-phase final move of the match, full-back Karim Lynch broke Brixham hearts by ghosting under the posts with Hancox’s kick sealing victory.
Leadbeater said the test of his team-mate’s mettle could prove pivotal in their promotion push.
He added: “Brixham started very strong by putting us under immense pressure from the off.
“We spent the entirety of the game behind on points, which is something we haven’t experienced much in the games I have played in.
“The boys really had to dig deep with our defence and then push through the aches and pains to score after an estimated 43-phase last play of the game to nick the victory.”