POTTERNE may not have had a winning start to life in the West of England Premier League’s top flight last weekend, but injured skipper Neil Clark believes there is plenty his side can take from the match.

The Grove side made their debut in Premier One as they entertained Bridgwater and, after the visitors posted 291-8, Potterne looked well set for victory at 217-1 before they were restricted to 259-8 and handed a 32-run reverse.

Clark, who was forced to watch from the pavilion as he continues his rehabilitation from a ruptured ACL, believes that the death bowling from both sides proved to be the difference.

“Eight times out of 10 you are going to win matches like that,” Clark said. “We got into a position where we should have won and it was frustrating that I wasn’t able to do anything about.

“But I think that they (Bridgwater) are going to be one of the top sides this year and to know that we can go out there and compete with them is a big confidence booster.

“They had two pros (George Bartlett and Liam Redrup) bowling at the death for them, we could have also done a bit better in the middle order.

“That is experience, the standard of bowling at the death is going to be a lot better this year.

“I thought that our fielding and catching were superb. I think that we started our bowling well but maybe let ourselves down at the death.”

Potterne made an early breakthrough against their visitors when Dylan Higgins trapped Bridgwater skipper Merv Hallaran leg before for 11 with the score on 12.

However, the Somerset outfit hit back as Adam Hose (64) and Bartlett (70) shared a 123-run second wicket stand.

A blistering 77 of 57 balls from Chris Gange, which included seven fours and four sixes, helped Bridgwater on their way to solid 291-8 at the close of their innings.

Potterne made the perfect response in their reply as Tom Cullen and Luke De Souza (67) shared a 133-run opening wicket partnership.

Cullen continued to attack the Bridgwater bowling but fell five short of a well-deserved century when he was bowled by Alex Frick, while stand-in captain Sahan Wijerathne, coming in at three, added a solid 40.

However, with six batsmen a total of 39 runs, Potterne’s hopes of success diminished as they closed on 259-8.

Corsham also fell to an opening day defeat as they were beaten by 142 runs at Bath.

The hosts scored 356-6 from their 50 overs with Tim Rouse hitting 111, but Corsham were dismissed for 214 with skipper Ashur Morrison top scoring with 52.

On Saturday, Potterne head to Taunton St Andrews, while Corsham welcome champions Frocester to Station Road.