Bournemouth lock Harry Leadbeater said he was delighted to score his first try for the club against Maidenhead and cap a sensational rise.
The level-headed lock has been a revelation in the Lions’ engine room this season alongside second row partner Ben Roberts.
Prior to his emergence from County rivals Dorset Dockers, the Lions had struggled to find a companion for Roberts and Leadbeater said he was ecstatic to score.
He said: “It feels great to get my first try for the club, the club have really made me feel comfortable here and have really allowed me to develop into a better player and to play the type of rugby which I enjoy to play and I hope I can just keep getting more tries for the boys and hopefully keep on scoring.
“It felt unbelievable to win today against Maidenhead, because it was a really hot day and it was a really tough day to play because we were all struggling to play in these conditions.
“But we powered on through and we got stuck in and got the win in the end which is amazing.”
The 29-10 home bonus-point win over Maidenhead last Saturday capped the season double over the only side to have blotted the Lions’ copy book this season.
The Chapel Gate visitors triumphed 28-16 back in December, and Leadbeater said his team-mates were determined to keep their strong home record intact.
The Lions have not lost at home for two years, and this season have won all 12 home fixtures so far this season, which Leadbeater says has been down to the strong support.
With just one home game left now against bottom-of-the-table Old Patesians - who Bournemouth thrashed 50-0 away from home in the season curtain raiser - Leadbeater said they want to make it a perfect 13 out of 13.
Leadbeater added: “Our home record is completely undefeated so far this season, and we have only got one more home game left so hopefully we can go the whole season undefeated and it will be a clean sweep for the season.
“The crowd was absolutely brilliant against Maidenhead- they just keep coming down to watch in their numbers - and you get messages of support in midweek from people which really keeps you going as a player so I really cannot thanks the fans enough.”