By Adam Hunter

Bournemouth Director of Rugby, Will Croker, welcomes several key players back to his squad this weekend, and expects tries as his side host Tonbridge Juddians in National Two South.

Lions welcome TJs to Chapel Gate to continue their tough run of opening fixtures. The Kent side, like last week’s opponents Henley, finished third in the league last season, missing out on promotion by a single point. And the visitors come to the South Coast undefeated this campaign, having scored an average of fifty points in each of their opening three fixtures.

“They have always been a very aspirational club,” Croker says, “playing in an area where there is always a lot of competition for players.”

In a London & South East region that is home for Old Elthamians, Blackheath, Rosslyn Park, Barnes and Dorking to name a few, TJs recruited well in the summer, signing back-row Truman Sullivan and centre Rob White from Old Elthamians.

“It looks, at the moment, like TJs are on the up,” Croker acknowledges.

“They’ve got a big pack that carry hard, and they will be coached well by Pete Dankert. But we know what to expect.”

Lions lost their first home fixture of the season, going down 24-37 to Worthing a fortnight ago: their first home defeat in two years. Croker and his team take confidence and inspiration from this exceptional recent record.

“We always target our home games. We’ve got a great record at home over the years and we are in no mood to take our foot off the gas. We love cranking up the pressure at home.”

Bournemouth suffered cruelly with injuries and unavailability last weekend, but several players return to the ranks this weekend.

Goalkicker Grant Hancox comes back in, moving from his regular position of full-back to take the fly-half jersey, with regular stand-off Mike Pope moving in to scrum-half as last weekend’s star man Liam Driscoll is unavailable.

Freddie Gleadowe, twice a try scorer this campaign, comes back in at outside-centre, with Alex Everett-Bolter moving back to his regular berth on the wing. Ben Meadon switches from wing to full-back, and Wyn Roberts is promoted off the bench to the left wing after his brace as a substitute away at Henley.

Scott Chislett, Sam Hardcastle, Tom Napier and Ryan Hughes return from injury on the bench.

Lions will look to keep the ball for long periods and put together multiple phases to build attacking pressure on their guests. And Croker realises they’ll need to be at their best defensively against a team that is seemingly scoring points for fun.

“We’re really looking forward to it. It’s going to be one of those afternoons where there will be tries scored.

“It’s a game we are confident of being very competitive in.”