POTTERNE skipper Ashur Morrison conceded his team required at least one solid batting partnership against Frocester on Saturday, a game which they lost by one wicket.

Morrison partnered Neil Clark for a fourth wicket stand of 41 during their latest home game, but that was the highest partnership the home side established as Frocester skittled Potterne out for 175.

The visitors knocked back the runs with two overs remaining and one wicket in hand, leaving Morrison scratching his head while reflecting on a day of what could have been.

“I wouldn’t say the result was frustrating,'' he said.

“Whichever team won the toss had the advantage of better conditions to bowl and bat on.

“The wicket was a bit wet due to the rain we had in the build up to the game, but the sun on Saturday made it a bit flatter which was nice.

“In hindsight had we set a target of 190 or 200 it would have been a lot easier to defend, but we bowled and fielded well which put pressure on them.

“We’re disappointed to not have picked up more points, but we made the game close.”

Despite the loss, Morrison highlighted the positives Potterne could take from their latest loss – which leaves them sixth in the Premier One division having won two of their opening five games.

A tidy performance with the bat from Clark (78 not out) was backed up by economic bowling from Alex Russell (5-24).

Morrison said: “Neil’s performance with the bat was superb, he took great responsibility.

“Without his efforts we wouldn’t have got close to 110. He deserves a lot of praise.

“It was a tricky pitch to bat on. I reached 16 but never felt like I was in at any part of the innings.

“It was one of those pitches where you couldn’t time the ball, you had to use brute force and hit through the line.

“The game required a couple of us to grind out some steady scores, we can’t expect to win games if we don’t bat our 50 overs.”

Potterne are back in action this weekend with a trip to table-topping Taunton St Andrews, who have lost just one of their opening five games.

And Morrison expects his men to face a tough challenge on what anticipates to be a ‘slow and low’ wicket.

“I’m not sure what the Taunton pitch is like now but it’s normally slow and low,” said Morrison.

“Taunton are very good at bowling on their wicket and setting fields up to tie batsmen down.

“Like I’ve said before, no game in this league is easy and our next fixture highlights that.”

Elsewhere in Premier One, Goatacre crashed to a heavy 120-run defeat at home to Taunton St Andrews.

Half-centuries from James Regan and Lloyd Alley guided Taunton to a massive 320-8 from their 50 overs before Ed Wilkins’ men could only reach 200 in reply with tailenders David Miles (41 not out) and Matthew House (30) starring with the bat.