POTTERNE team manager Fred Kerley reckons that his team are on course to receive a fine mark in their half-term report.

The villagers remain hot on the heels of Premier Two leaders Taunton following their devastating demolition of Cheltenham last weekend, with a host of Potterne troops shining as they triumphed by a whopping 241 runs at the Grove.

Following next weekend’s derby clash at Goatacre, Kerley’s men will have reached the halfway point of their season and the Potterne manager and chairman is delighted with their efforts so far this summer.

“We’ve got a big game against our local rivals next weekend and we’ll be halfway through the season then – we’re very happy with the first half,” said Kerley.

“We’re second in the table at the moment and we're right behind Taunton. We want to try and chase them all the way in the second half of the season.

“It was a really good game to watch on Saturday.

"After we lost Luke De Souza and our overseas player, Sahan (Wijerathne), Ed Young came in and went ballistic – Ed was really good and Tom Cullen also ended up on a century.

“Dylan Higgins then got rid of their two openers with the first three balls of the innings and he ended up with five wickets, and Jake Roberts got four.”

Potterne batted first after winning the toss and when De Souza (27) and Wijerathne (22) were dismissed, Young took to the crease and smashed a towering unbeaten 171, which included 17 fours and 12 sixes, from just 82 deliveries.

Young wasn’t the only home centurion, with opener Cullen finishing with figures of 109 not out as Potterne posted a formidable 341-2.

Their ruthlessness didn’t stop there as the home side tore through the Cheltenham order, with Higgins taking a fine 5-31, whilst Roberts (4-56) was also on-target with the ball as the visitors were skittled for just 100 in 21 overs.

Elsewhere, Goatacre suffered an eight-wicket loss at leaders Taunton, Ed Kilbee cracking away 139 and Tendai Maruma making 50 as Ed Wilkins’ men were all out for 247.

But Marcus Harris (132*) and Jack Cooper (79) came to the fore as they guided Taunton to 248-2 in 41 overs.