A magnificent second half comeback brought Bournemouth to within seconds of a third league win of the season, a result that the club so desperately needed in their fight against relegation from National Two South. But Lions had to settle for the draw that means they remain at the foot of the league table.

Leading 15-20 ten minutes from time after two Grant Hancox penalties, discipline cost the visitors. Under pressure defending their line, the Bournemouth forwards collapsed a driving maul and flanker Ben Russell received his marching orders. Westcliff kicked to the corner, and after another driving maul was held up over the line, repeated scrum penalties led to a second yellow card, this time for Bournemouth prop George Cotterell. Westcliff full-back Jake Spivey bundled over on the right side after a simple passing move, bringing the hosts level and ending Bournemouth’s hopes of victory.

Lions had been handed a lifeline by Westcliff fly-half Joe Ford, whose poor goalkicking throughout cost his team eight points in missed conversions, including the final kick of the game that would have dealt a severe blow to Bournemouth’s chances of survival.

Defence had dominated the first half-hour, with neither side registering a score until Westcliff winger Gregory Bannister finished a team move to score in the right corner.

Ford missed the conversion, but nipped through himself for a score moments later to put Westcliff 10-0 up. Another conversion miss meant the score was unchanged at the break.

Despite starting the second half strongly, Lions conceded again on 53 minutes, wing Myles Bean finishing another flowing move for the home team. Ford’s frustrating afternoon with the boot continued, leaving the door open for the Bournemouth resurgence.

First, fly-half and player-coach MIke Pope scored his side’s first try of the match, with Hancox adding the extras. Minutes later prop Alan Manning added a second, with Hancox’s conversion bringing Bournemouth back to within a point.

The season-long Grant Hancox show continued, as sustained pressure from the visiting forwards forced mistakes and infringements. Two quick penalties on 68 and 70 minutes from Hancox completed the comeback and brought his team in line for victory.

But, yet again, it was not to be.

Bournemouth now appear to be in a three-way fight to get out of the bottom two and avoid relegation. They sit bottom on 18 points, with Old Redcliffians above on 19 and Sutton & Epsom next on 21. Westcliff are surely out of severe danger, next in 13th on 32 points. The next two weeks see Bourneouth host Clifton and then travel to Esher, both tough fixtures. But the coaches will already be looking ahead to a series of matches against mid-table opposition, and then a critical three-week run when they face Sutton & Epsom twice and Old Redcliffians.

By Adam Hunter