Portland RED TRIANGLE 79 (0pts) lost to CERNE VALLEY 80-1 (20pts) by 9 wickets

PORTLAND Red Triangle experienced a heavy defeat against Cerne Valley, but the biggest loss was felt after the last delivery had been bowled.

Captain Matt Gomm has fallen on his sword and resigned with immediate effect.

The club have experienced a difficult season so far and currently sit third from bottom in Division Three. Gomm told Echosport: “Saturday was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“I had planned to go at the end of the season but the last two performances have basically persuaded me to go now. I thought we had a team competent of competing in the league, however it seems I am very much mistaken.

“I have not fallen out with anyone at the club and everything has been dealt with amicably. Of course I got angry on Saturday but all was forgotten within 10 minutes.

“We seem to take one step forward followed by two steps back, so after two-and-a-half seasons I have had enough. I take all defeats personally and it’s something I don’t wish to be part of anymore.

“Saturday was a joke, an embarrassment, and it‘s something I can do without. I wish all the boys well and I know they have games coming up against some of the weaker teams in the league. Hopefully they can pick up a few victories.

“I felt we had a decent side but we are clearly struggling with a lack of depth. This Saturday was the first time I felt ‘I don’t want to be here, there are other places I would rather be’.

“Being captain of any club is very time consuming and in a lot of ways I am very relieved by my decision. It seemed like we could compete against the weaker sides in the league but not the stronger ones.”

Portland have now lost half their games this season, and their departing skipper refused to blame the Cerne Valley wicket or the umpires for the latest loss.

“It was the same for both teams,” said Gomm.

“It may well have been a poor track and a few of our boys complained about it, but they reached their target for the loss of only one wicket. We knew it wasn’t going to be a Redlands track, yet it was a piece of cake for them.

“We won the toss and decided to bat first which is what I felt they would have done. Having looked at their previous games we should have been looking to get a total of around 200.

“They bowled well, but not brilliantly, and we certainly shouldn’t have been bowled out for 79.

“I would like to think I am very honest and open when reviewing our performances. At the end of the match I ended up apologising to their skipper because our display was so poor.”