BOURNEMOUTH came off second best in their friendly with Southampton in an entertaining encounter at Chapel Gate.

Despite running in three early tries and looking like they would canter to victory, a glut of injuries allowed the visitors to rack up the points late on to seal a 38-21 win.

Lions dominated up front in the opening exchanges and a fine pick-up and go from a scrum by number eight Dubach, aided and abetted by his fellow forwards, put them in the ascendancy.

Guy Spencer then took advantage of the ball being quickly moved through the backs to storm down the right and dive over.

Jamie McHugh added a third soon after and, with Jon Sanchez kicking the three conversions, the home side were 21-0 to the good with only 20 minutes on the clock.

Southampton got themselves on the scoresheet with a converted try and a penalty to make it 21-10 at the break and when the Chapel Gate side lost prop Mark Awdas early in the second half, the away side began to dominate at the scrummage.

With dominance at the line-out too, the visitors made the most of the plentiful ball and once skipper Spencer also had to leave the field injured, a disjointed Lions side were steamrollered as Southampton ran out worthy winners.

Despite the reverse, Bournemouth's main concern will be over the state of their injured players, Awdas and Spencer, although the return of Dave Upton to the country was a bonus for Lions.

Bournemouth: Spencer (Upton, 65), McHugh, Sanchez (Rose, 40), Dallyn, Rose (Bruce, 20), Marsh, Coxon, Scott, Denholm, Awdas (Dubach, 50), Seward, A Scott, Burton, Carroll, Dubach (Sanchez, 50).

Bournemouth seconds excelled themselves with a 30-0 win over Wimborne seconds.