PORTLAND Red Triangle captain Matt Randell emphasised the need to bounce back from defeat to Cerne Valley in their County Division One clash with Swanage at Reforne tomorrow (1.30pm).

For the first time this season, Portland are having to reply to a loss, following their 38-run reverse to Cerne at the weekend.

Randell said: “We are looking to bounce back after a pretty dreadful defeat up at Cerne at the weekend. It was a little bit of a demoralising one.

“I suppose we are confident even though we had that loss, I think we always feel confident at home so I think that that is a massive boost to us all of the time, playing at home. We are just really, really keen to bounce back and get a win after last weekend.

Discussing Swanage, Randell said: “I don’t really know anything about them, I have never played against Swanage on a Saturday.

“I have seen that they have had some mixed results at the start of the year so hopefully we can focus on our own game and not worry about the opposition.”

However, Portland are third in the early standings, just two points behind Hamworthy Recreation in second, but 15 points behind early pace setters Cattistock, who have missed out on just one possible point so far this season.

Swanage are the team that await Portland, but who have won one of their opening three games so far.

Sam Mihell is unavailable and is replaced by Simon Barrett, while off-spinner Jack Marsh makes way for Jon Cameron to improve their seam bowling.

Portland: Emery, Price, Randell, Proffitt, Leake, Laws, Whisker, Theakstone, M Barrett, Cameron, S Barrett