BASSETT boosted their hopes of pulling away from the foot of the table claimed with their second Southern Counties South victory of the season.

With Swindon College having pulled out of the league, Bassett simply could not afford to lose more ground to their south coast opponents, who were four points clear having played two more games before kick-off.

And they closed the gap, as tries from veteran prop forward Dave Scott, No 8 Neil Smith and new signing Peter Thornton clinched victory.

In a match dominated by the referee's whistle, Bassett cconceded four kickable penalties in the first 10 minutes and another two before the break. But Bournemouth were only able to convert one of them and Bassett looked the more organised side in defence and creative in attack.

The pack supported the direction of half-backs Sam Fulling and Peter Thornton, a recent acquisition from the Newbury club.

Late in the half as Thornton created space for himself in the opposition 22 and scythed through the defence from short range to give the hosts a narrow 5-3 lead at half-time.

Bassett had spluttered throughout the first period, but finally roared into life late in the second half after conceding numerous penalties against a heavier Bournemouth pack.

Smith fought courageously to hold the lighter Bassett scrum together, but made progress on nearly every occasion he picked up the ball.

But when Bassett lost possession on the opposition line, Bournemouth moved the ball quickly to their winger who ran the length of the pitch to score an excellent converted try.

The mistake galvanised the hosts into action. Scott got his name on the scoresheet as he bulldozed his way through a sea of legs on the opposition line and Alex Norcross converted to put Bassett back into a 12-10 lead.

And in injury time, they ran in a third try from Smith and Norcross converted to seal the victory.